Starmer’s ‘Due Process’ Claim Demolished by Damning Mandelson Report

A powerful group of MPs has utterly rejected Sir Keir Starmer’s assurance that ‘due process’ was followed in Peter Mandelson’s ‘disastrous’ appointment as US Ambassador. The Foreign Affairs Committee concludes Downing Street ‘forced’ the appointment, with processes ‘made up as it went along’.

This fresh humiliation for the Prime Minister comes as the report condemns ‘appalling’ record-keeping and reveals crucial security checks on the New Labour grandee were treated as an ‘afterthought’. The findings directly contradict Starmer’s public defence of the appointment just before Mandelson was sacked.

No. 10 Forced Appointment, Ignored Vetting

The Foreign Affairs Committee found no evidence of how candidates were shortlisted for the Washington posting, nor any record of Sir Keir’s response to the recommendation. It is ‘impossible to know’ his decision-making process, as no note could be found for the meeting where he decided to appoint Mandelson.

The report highlights a ‘dismissive view’ by No. 10 towards vetting Mandelson, despite his ‘history of losing political jobs because of bad judgement’ and ‘potential conflicts of interest’ with his consultancy, Global Counsel, and ‘known closeness to Jeffrey Epstein’.

Committee Chairman Slams ‘Unmitigated Disaster’

Processes were rushed or simply not followed. The usual checks and balances were not made. Vital security checks, integral to our national security, seemed to be viewed as a nuisance. Mandelson’s appointment was an unmitigated disaster for the country. It should never have been allowed to happen, and it cannot ever be repeated. To prevent anything similar from happening again, no public appointments should be made without security vetting having already taken place.

— Dame Emily Thornberry, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman

Dame Emily Thornberry further stated that Mandelson’s appointment was ‘highly damaging for the Government, painful and offensive to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and it has diminished our country in the eyes of the world.’ This scathing assessment underscores the profound reputational damage inflicted upon Britain.

• Downing Street ‘forced’ Mandelson’s appointment on the Foreign Office.
• Security checks were deemed an ‘afterthought’, despite Mandelson’s ‘known closeness to Jeffrey Epstein’.
• Sir Keir Starmer sacked top diplomat Sir Olly Robbins without knowing the full facts.
• No records exist of Starmer’s decision-making process for this critical appointment.
• The incoming Trump administration wanted Dame Karen Pierce to remain Ambassador.

What This Means for Britain

This scandal means your country’s most vital diplomatic posts are being filled not by merit, but by political cronyism and backroom deals. It means the security of our nation, and the integrity of our foreign service, are being treated with contempt. Your taxes fund a system where due process is ignored, and accountability is a myth.

The economic fallout from such a ‘disastrous’ appointment, and the subsequent global embarrassment, undermines Britain’s standing and our ability to secure crucial trade deals. This directly impacts jobs and the cost of living for every working family, as international confidence in our leadership erodes.

This report exposes a pattern of arrogance and disregard for established procedure at the highest levels of government. It reveals a Prime Minister who is either misinformed or deliberately misleading the public, sacrificing national interest for political convenience and protecting his own. The establishment is failing Britain.

If this level of incompetence and disregard for national security is allowed to continue, Britain’s reputation on the world stage will be irrevocably damaged. Our alliances will weaken, and our voice will be ignored. This is not just a political scandal; it is a betrayal of our country’s future.

Share if you believe Britain deserves better than a government that prioritises cronyism over national security. Demand answers from your MP. This must be seen by every British voter.

Source: Daily Mail | Breaking Brexit News