Keir Starmer told to ‘take responsibility and go’ as PMQs erupts in fury at Mandelson scandal

Keir Starmer likely to prorogue Parliament early next week 

Rumours are growing that Sir Keir Starmer will prorouge Parliament early next week in a bid to avoid another PMQs grilling, but will frame it in relation to the upcoming local elections.

Backbenchers have been told to expect an earlier prorogation, predicted to be on Tuesday evening, the Times reports.

Labour MP calls for Keir Starmer to quit amid Lord Mandelson scandal: ‘It’s if, not when!’

Labour MP Jonathan Brash has called on Keir Starmer to resign and said it was a case of “if, not when” he will leave Downing Street.

The Hartlepool representative told GB News he does not think “anybody reasonably expects the Prime Minister to lead the party into the next election”.

Mr Brash was speaking after the Prime Minister received a grilling from Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch over his handling of the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, following revelations that the disgraced peer had failed security vetting and the explosive testimony of Sir Olly Robbins.

“They just need to get a grip. I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, you know, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

​Sir Keir Starmer is failing to tackle Pakistani rape gangs by getting distracted by Lord Mandelson, claims Reform MP

Sir Keir Starmer is failing to tackle the Pakistani rape gangs by getting distracted by the Lord Mandelson fiasco, Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin has said.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mrs Pochin said: “Every day that the Prime Minister fails to act or even acknowledge Pakistani grooming gangs that rape and torture vulnerable white girls, more victims continue to suffer.

“Whilst he spends his energy forcing friends of paedophiles into top jobs, why not use that energy to stop that disgrace?”

Sir Keir replied: “I spent many years prosecuting paedophiles who are now in prison, so I really don’t need lectures from Reform around this.”

PM dismisses claims of ‘dismissive attitude’ towards Mandelson vetting

Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed claims of a “dismissive attitude” towards the vetting process when he appointed Lord Mandelson.

Ellie Chowns, a Green Party MP, said: “The Prime Minister appointed Mandelson in a desperate and doomed attempt to pander to Donald Trump, despite knowing about his friendship with the paedophile Epstein and his links to foreign states.

“The Prime Minister resisted and then took a dismissive and extraordinarily incurious attitude to vetting, compromising national security. And now he’s thrown a civil servant under the bus to save his own skin… Does the Prime Minister not realise that the best thing he can do to restore trust and integrity is to take true responsibility and resign?”

However, the Prime Minister blamed Sir Olly for not telling him about security concerns over Lord Mandelson.Sir Keir said: “There was no dismissive attitude to developed vetting, I knew the post was subject to developed vetting, it was subject to developed vetting.

“What didn’t happen was I was told the UKSV recommendation. That was a serious error of judgment.”

Ben Obese-Jecty asks what security vetting Jonathan Powell received as special envoy 

Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked about Jonathan Powell’s appointment as special envoy to the British Indian Ocean Territories, including the Chagos Islands, particularly whether he went through security vetting.

He, over boos from MPs, said: “Jonathan Powell was appointed as the Prime Minister’s special envoy to the British Indian Ocean Territories on the sixth of September, but throughout August, he held meetings with FCDO officials and was given access to classified information, including a meeting minute between the Prime Minister and the then Foreign Secretary.”

“When was Jonathan Powell appointed as special envoy, and what security clearance did he hold upon that appointment?”

Sir Keir responded: “Jonathan Powell is doing an excellent job for this government, is respected across the world, and is playing a significant part in dealing with the huge challenges that we face.”

Sir Keir Starmer admits he requested ambassadorial role for Lord Matthew Doyle

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, raised the issue of Lord Matthew Doyle, saying many MPs were “shocked” by the revelations laid out by Sir Olly Robbins.

He said: “Many of us in this house were shocked by the new revelations from Olly Robbins yesterday. He said Number 10 told him to find a plum job for Matthew Doyle — another Labour crony, friends with a convicted sex offender.

“The Prime Minister was asked on Monday whether No10 had proposed any political appointments other than Mandelson.”

Sir Keir Starmer responded: “Matthew Doyle worked for many years in public service, for me as Prime Minister and other ministers.

“When people leave roles in any organisation, there are very often conversations about other roles they may want to apply for.

“In this case, nothing came of it.”

‘That was a clear national security risk!’ – Kemi Badenoch raises concerns Peter Mandelson had access to classified material before vetting

Kemi Badenoch said: “The due diligence document said Mandelson remained on the board of the Kremlin-linked defence company Sistema long after Putin’s first invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

“The Prime Minister told us on Monday that he had read that due diligence report. Why did the Prime Minister want to make a man with links to the Kremlin our ambassador in Washington?”

Sir Keir responded: “[UKSV] recommended, with red flags, that there shouldn’t be clearance. It was high concern. That information should have been made available to me at the time, and subsequently. The fact that it wasn’t was a very serious error of judgment.”

‘Why was due process not followed?’ – Kemi Badenoch questions Keir Starmer over Peter Mandelson appointment

The Leader of the Opposition posed to Sir Keir Starmer why the process to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson was not followed.

Sir Keir responded: “Olly Robbins could not have been clearer in his evidence yesterday.

“He said this: ‘I didn’t feel under pressure personally in terms of my judgment.’ He went on to say: ‘I have complete confidence that recommendations to me and the discussions we had and the decision we made were rigorously independent of any pressure’.

“He was asked if any conversations led him to believe that Mandelson needed to take up the role regardless of the vetting outcome. He said: ‘I can say with certainty, it was never put to me in that way’.

“What is unacceptable is that the recommendation of UKSV was not given to me before Mandelson took up his post.”

Kemi Badenoch: Sir Olly Robbins evidence does not put Peter Mandelson scandal ‘to bed’ 

Sir Keir said the Foreign Affairs Select Committee grilling of Sir Olly Robbins had “put to bed” the allegations over him misleading Parliament.

Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition, contested this, saying it did not resolve the issue.

She said: “Mr Speaker, it does not put to bed anything.

“On November 11, 2024, long before any vetting had happened, the Prime Minister received advice from Sir Simon Case, the then Cabinet Secretary.

“The advice said the appointment would require, and I quote, ‘the necessary security clearances before confirming the Prime Minister’s choice’.

“This advice was ignored. So how can the Prime Minister still believe that confirming Mandelson before the security clearances was following due process?”

Keir Starmer opens PMQs apologising to Jeffrey Epstein victims and reiterating he did not know of Peter Mandelson vetting result

Sir Keir Starmer addressed the House of Commons first apologising to the victims of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He said: “On Tuesday, April 14, I found out for the first time that on January 29, 2025, before Peter Mandelson took up his position as ambassador, Foreign Office officials granted him developed vetting clearance against the specific recommendation of the United Kingdom Security Vetting that developed vetting clearance should be denied.”

PICTURED: Sir Keir Starmer sets off ahead of PMQs

The Prime Minister had a smile on his face as he left No10 ahead of PMQs, despite what is likely to be a fiery session in the House of Commons for Sir Keir today, as calls for his resignation are becoming increasingly loud.

Cabinet Office boss to sit before Foreign Affairs Select Committee tomorrow following Sir Olly Robbins’ grilling yesterday

Another mandarin will appear for the the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, following the explosive two and half hour grilling Sir Olly Robbins went through yesterday.

Cat Little, the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office will be questioned by committee members, including chair, Dame Emily Thornberry and is expected to counter the evidence delivered by Sir Olly.

Scottish First Minister to skip TV debate due to lack of female representation 

Scottish First Minister John Swinney has decided to pass up the opportunity to talk on a TV debate over concerns that it would otherwise be a “group of blokes talking politics”.

The First Minister has faced accusations that he is “running scared” of other leaders and he announced that Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan would appear in his place on Question Time in Aberdeen on Thursday.

Deflecting the criticism, the SNP said the reason for Mr Swinney not attending was due to the lack of female representation on the panel.

He said: “The sight of six blokes sitting at a table talking about politics, I don’t think is a great look in politics.”

Gillian Mackay, the Scottish Greens co-leader is the only woman currently in a leadership role in Scotland.

The SNP are currently leading in the polls ahead of the parliamentary elections on May 7.

Emily Thornberry: Prime Minister right to sack Sir Olly Robbins

Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who quizzed ex-mandarin Sir Olly Robbins yesterday over his handling of the Lord Peter Mandelson appointment, has said that Sir Keir Starmer was right to sack the ex-Foreign Office boss.

She said, speaking to Sky News: ““I’m not saying I’m not sympathetic. I’m not saying that he’s been through a very difficult time.

“But if you were to ask me, do I think that in all the circumstances it was right for him to lose his job? I think actually it was.”

She continued: “I think that there’s most definitely fault on both sides. I think that Olly Robbins should have told the Prime Minister or should have told somebody… it is my genuine view that the Prime Minister and this is a fault on his part, does delegate.”

Labour officials charged after criminal investigation into alleged vote-rigging

Four Labour officials have been charged after a police probe into alleged vote-rigging during a parliamentary selection process ahead of the 2024 General Election.

Joel Bodmer, 40, his wife Shila Bodmer, 41, Gabriel Leroy, 24, and Carole Bonner, 69, a former councillor in Croydon, each face charges of conspiracy and computer misuse connected to alleged irregularities in how the Croydon East candidate was chosen.

Labour has confirmed all four individuals have had their party memberships suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

The selection contest for the London constituency was halted in 2023 after concerns emerged regarding alterations to party members’ contact information.

READ FULL STORY HERE.

Northern Ireland defence sector set for £50million cash injection from UK Government 

Northern Ireland’s defence industry is set to receive a £50million cash injection in the hope to stimulate hundreds of jobs in the region.

The Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal is being launched by the UK Government.

Defence minister Luke Pollard will be heading to Belfast today alongside Northern Ireland Office minister Matthew Patrick.

The deal is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in the NI to make it easier for businesses to enter the defence supply-chain.

It also aims to initiate greater collaboration between the defence industry and educational establishments, to create a talent pipeline into the sector.

First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the BBC: “Northern Ireland has a really strong track record in relation to aerospace and defence and security.

“Today is a positive day to highlight the excellence within those sectors.”

WATCH: ‘Critical disagreement’ between Keir Starmer and Olly Robbins is over who made ‘final’ decision over Peter Mandelson appointment, says Pat McFadden

Pat McFadden, DWP Secretary said that the “critical disagreement” between Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Olly Robbins was over who made the final decision over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.

He said that Sir Olly wanted the final say, to which the Prime Minister disagreed.

Speaking to GB News, he said: “What the dispute here is who’s decision should it really have been on the final result of that vetting.

“Sir Olly Robbins’s answer to that question is he was in the right to take that decision, the Prime Minister believes the information should of been passed to him.”

Pat McFadden: Peter Mandelson appointment was welcomed at time

Pat McFadden, DWP Secretary and close ally of Sir Keir Starmer, said he saw “the rationale” for the appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US, citing that the disgraced peer was a “very experienced political operator” who was thought to do well in the “unusual, highly political US administration”.

Speaking to GB News, he also said the political appointment of the ambassador was “not met in horror” at the time, but acknowledged this was now “a mistake”.

Green party to conduct ‘full review’ of their policies 

The Green Party is set to conduct a “full review” of its policies, including abolishment of the monarchy, making private landlord illegal and reducing motorway speed to 55mph.

Zack Polanksi, leader of the Greens, said he will review the party’s policy platform to rid of unpopular proposal, reports Politico.

He said: “Our policy making process came about when we had something like 20,000 members.

“We just hit 226,000, so in terms of how the conference process works, I think the obvious place I would start is — it’s not working as well as it should at the moment.”

WATCH: ‘Completely catastrophic’ – Opposition Assistant Whip predicts vote of no confidence of Prime Minister will not happen

Katie Lam, Opposition Assistant Whip, said yesterday’s revelations from Sir Olly Robbins were “completely catastrophic”, emphasising the Government were not interested hearing anything about Lord Peter Mandelson during his appointment process.

She said, speaking to GB News, that a vote of no confidence is not “within [the Tories] control”, predicting such a vote wouldn’t be pursued by the Labour Party as it would make them “look weak”.

Ms Lam further suspected that the Government will prorogue Parliament early ahead of the local elections, meaning PMQs will not happen next week, in what she described as a “cowardly” move.

Inflation rises to 3.3 per cent 

The rate of inflation (consumer price index) rose to 3.3 per cent in March from 3 per cent in February, according to the Office of National Statistics.

This is the highest level of inflation since December 2025.

In response to the new figures, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, said: “This is not our war, but it is pushing up bills for families and businesses. That’s why it’s my number one priority to keep costs down.”

What did Angela Rayner – and Rachel Reeves – say last night?

Angela Rayner spent yesterday evening urging the media to look away from Lord Mandelson and to tune in to Labour’s “bold story” about how it was grappling with the Iran war.

“I’ll let this sink in to any journalists that are here: There’s some more important questions out there, and it’s on that note that I want to just take a moment at the end of the day to reflect on why all this matters, and to the world outside and beyond the bubble,” she said.

“Right now, ordinary people feel that their lives are too hard and that the basics of a good life are unaffordable.

“They suspect that this is because of an economy and a system that is rigged in favour of vested interests, and they’re right… Over and over ordinary people feel that they’ve paid the price for every crisis, the financial crash, austerity, Brexit, Covid.”

“Let’s tell a bold story about how we’re tackling the immediate crisis and taking the first steps towards an economy that’s built for one interest that we should all serve, and that’s the British people,” she added.

Sources close to Ms Rayner suggested her Tuesday speech instead signalled she was open to a return to serving as a minister – rather than the Prime Minister.

Later, Rachel Reeves insisted there was “no Labour leadership contest” and said holding one would be economically damaging.

“I do not want to go down the route the Conservatives went down, of three prime ministers in five years and five chancellors,” she fumed.

Also on Keir Starmer’s radar… Military planners from around the world descend on Britain to work out exactly what to do with Strait of Hormuz

Military planners from countries seeking to join a UK and France-led mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open once the Iran war ends will meet in London on Wednesday.

They aim to build on talks held by Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last week with a view to setting up a joint defensive mission after a sustainable ceasefire agreement has been reached.

The mission is intended to protect merchant vessels, reassure commercial shipping operators and conduct mine clearance operations.

The talks in London will focus on military capabilities, command and control, and how military forces could deploy to the region.

Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The task, today and tomorrow, is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the strait and support a lasting ceasefire.

“I am confident that, over the next two days, real progress can be made. International trade, energy security and the stability of the global economy depend on freedom of navigation.

“By building on our common purpose, strengthening multinational co-ordination and planning for effective collective action, we can help reopen the strait, stabilise the global economy and protect our people.”

Christopher Hope reveals real reason why Labour MPs are dodging GB News amid Lord Mandelson scandal

Christopher Hope last night revealed the reason why Labour MPs have been dodging opportunities to speak directly to GB News viewers amid the ongoing scandal surrounding Lord Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s Ambassador to the US.

GB News’s political editor was speaking after several fruitless attempts to get a Labour perspective on the status of the embattled Prime Minister.

Earlier, Chris posted on X that the chair and deputy chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Lord Beamish and Sir Jeremy Wright, had refused to speak on College Green just outside the House of Parliament…

WATCH CHOPPER’S ANALYSIS HERE

More on Labour… Party officials charged after criminal investigation into alleged vote-rigging

Four Labour offiials have been charged after a police probe into alleged vote-rigging during a parliamentary selection process ahead of the 2024 General Election.

Joel Bodmer, 40, his wife Shila Bodmer, 41, Gabriel Leroy, 24, and Carole Bonner, 69, a former councillor in Croydon, each face charges of conspiracy and computer misuse connected to alleged irregularities in how the Croydon East candidate was chosen.

Labour has confirmed all four individuals have had their party memberships suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings…

READ THE FULL STORY HERE