British lawmakers are set to vote Tuesday on launching a formal investigation into Prime Minister Keir Starmer over questions surrounding his selection of Peter Mandelson as former U.S. ambassador, according to The Times newspaper.
The potential probe could spell serious trouble for Starmer’s political future. While he has refused calls to step down over the Mandelson hiring controversy, a finding that he deliberately deceived Parliament could make his position impossible to maintain.
According to The Times, House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle will greenlight a parliamentary debate and vote on whether the Committee of Privileges should examine the situation.
Starmer dismissed Mandelson in September after it emerged that the former ambassador had more extensive connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than initially revealed.
The controversy has called into question Starmer’s decision-making abilities, particularly after it came to light that security officials had concerns about Mandelson’s appointment and were inclined to deny his clearance. Foreign ministry staff ultimately overturned that recommendation without informing the prime minister.
Starmer’s Labour Party holds a parliamentary majority, potentially giving the government enough votes to block any investigation from moving forward.
Should lawmakers approve the inquiry, the cross-party committee would determine whether Starmer’s public comments about Mandelson constituted deliberate or accidental deception of the House of Commons.
Any investigation would likely center on Starmer’s claims that proper procedures were followed during Mandelson’s hiring process.
