UK’s Keir Starmer faces parliament over Mandelson vetting as resignation demands swirl

InternationalMust ReadUK's Keir Starmer faces parliament over Mandelson vetting as resignation demands swirlBy Reuters -Apr 20, 2026LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will address parliament ​on Monday, facing calls for his resignation over his handling of the appointment of Peter ‌Mandelson, a senior figure in his ruling Labor Party, as U.S. ambassador, though it emerged he had failed a vetting process. Mandelson, 72, was sacked as ambassador in September last year following revelations about the depth of his ties to ​the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with Starmer apologizing for appointing him in the first ​place. But on Thursday, new information came to light which showed Mandelson had failed a ⁠security vetting process carried out before he was appointed, heaping pressure on the beleaguered prime minister ​whose popularity has sunk since he won a huge majority for Labor at a national election in 2024. TOP ​OFFICIAL SACKED Keir Starmer, who had previously told parliament all due process had been followed over Mandelson, has said it was uthat nforgivable he wasn’t told about the vetting failure until last week. Top Foreign Office official Olly Robbins was consequently sacked. Starmer ​said he would “set out the relevant facts” to lawmakers on Monday, while Robbins is due to give ​evidence in front of a parliamentary committee on Tuesday. However, his opponents have accused Starmer of lying and incompetence, and ‌say his ⁠job is no longer tenable. Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrats leader, said he had shown “catastrophic misjudgement”, while Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, said at best he had been recklessly negligent. APPOINTMENT ‘INSULTED EPSTEIN’S VICTIMS’ “This has been a tawdry and shaming affair for you and your party, and for this country,” ​she said in a letter ​sent to the prime ⁠minister on Sunday. “Not only have you damaged our relationship with the United States and insulted the victims of the paedoph...