Starmer avoids privileges committee inquiry into vetting of Peter Mandelson – UK politics live

Key events

A summary of today’s developments

Keir Starmer saw off an opposition bid to refer him to a standards committee over Peter Mandelson’s appointment. The government won the vote by 335 votes to 223, a majority of 112.

Peers have ended their stand-off with MPs over plans to curb social media for under-16s after the government agreed to introduce “age or functionality restrictions”.

After the Guardian’s story that the Treasury is considering imposing a one-year rent freeze on private sector homes to deal with the impact of the Iran war on household budgets, the PM’s spokesperson said: “We have no plans to implement this. Our focus remains on cutting bills and backing renters alongside lower energy prices.”

But, during Treasury questions in the Commons, Rachel Reeves did not rule out the idea. Asked if she would consider the case for a fixed-term rent freeze, Reeves said: “This government have already taken action to reduce the cost of living and to bear down on inflation with the changes around energy prices, around fuel duty, prescription charges and rail fares.

“And I will do everything in my power and use every lever we have to bear down on the cost of living, including for people in the private rented sector.”

Sir Christian Turner, who replaced Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, privately told students in February that the Epstein scandal could bring down Keir Starmer. Turner’s comments have been reported by the Financial Times, which also says the diplomat told the students that the only country with which the US really has a special relationship is Israel.

Giving evidence to MPs, Morgan McSweeney, former Downing Street Chief of Staff, said learning the full extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein in September 2025 was like “having a knife through my soul”. McSweeney also accepted he was at fault in recommending Mandelson.

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Ed Davey accused the PM of cowardice after he ordered Labour MPs to vote against referring him to the Privileges Committee.

The Liberal Democrat leader said: “Starmer has ducked the scrutiny he should have faced by forcing Labour MPs to defend him. What a cowardly way to govern.

“If he truly felt his conduct over the Mandelson scandal was up to scratch he should have undergone investigation by the Privileges Committee.

“The Liberal Democrats will always stand up for decency and honesty in politics – unlike this Prime Minister.”

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In total, 15 Labour MPs went against the three-line whip and voted for the Conservative-led motion to subject the PM to an investigation by the Privileges Committee including Richard Burgon, Rebecca Long Bailey, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Andy McDonald and Brian Leishman.

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Keir Starmer saw off an opposition bid to refer him to a standards committee over Peter Mandelson’s appointment after Downing Street deployed its full weight to force Labour MPs to shore up the prime minister, writes Ben Quinn and Yassin El-Moudden.

However, the Labour leader bore the brunt of anger from some of his own backbenchers who accused him of creating a situation where they would be perceieved as being complicit in “a cover-up.”

The vote – tabled by the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch – was on whether the privileges committee should consider if the prime minister misled the Commons in relation to the disgraced peer taking the role of US ambassador.

While it united opposition parties including the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Reform and others, there will have been relief in the government that Labour figures such as Angela Rayner opted to keep their powder dry. The government won the vote by 335 votes to 223, a majority of 112.

Badenoch had opened the debate by accusing the Starmer of forcing his MPs to come out to assist him “to avoid scrutiny”.

“They are being whipped today to exonerate him before the facts have even been tested,” she added.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, likened Starmer’s response to the motion to that of Boris Johnson, when the then Conservative MP faced a similar vote that paved the way for an inquiry into whether he misled parliament over alleged breaches of lockdown rules.

“The prime minister called this motion a stunt, that is not why I put my name to it. But it’s funny though, because ‘stunt’ is exactly the same word Boris Johnson used about the motion the prime minister and I tabled four years ago, referring Boris Johnson to the privileges committee,” said Davey.

Closing the debate for the government, Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said: “In recent weeks some have accused the prime minister of dishonesty saying there was no way that Foreign Office officials would have given Peter Mandelson clearance against the vetting agency’s recommendation let alone without checking with the prime minister himself.

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Downing Street accused the Conservatives of resorting to a “desperate political stunt” after MPs rejected a bid to launch an inquiry into whether Keir Starmer misled the Commons over the appointment of Peter Mandelson.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: “This Labour Government is delivering for Britain including bringing down energy bills, cutting hospital waiting lists and lifting half a million children out of poverty.

“The Conservative Party resorted to this desperate political stunt the week before the May elections because they have no answers on the cost of living or the NHS.

“We will continue to engage with the two parliamentary processes that are running on Peter Mandelson’s appointment with full transparency.”

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MPs voting on whether to refer Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee were heckled as they did so, Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said.

Speaking after giving the voting figures, Hoyle said: “Can I just say, a member of Parliament has been to complain to me, and another member.

“When other members are shouting ‘shame’ when they’re voting, it is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated.”

He urged those responsible to apologise to those they had shouted at.

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MPs reject Conservative proposal over Mandelson

MPs voted 335-223 against the motion, meaning the government won by a majority of 112.

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After a lively debate, MPs are now exiting to vote on whether or not Keir Starmer should face a parliamentary inquiry into allegations that he misled the House and be referred to the Privileges Committee over his comments around the vetting of Peter Mandelson.

The result is expected at 6.30pm.

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Darren Jones said Starmer is not in the Commons currently as he is chairing the Middle East response committee.

He also accuses the Conservatives of “distraction, distraction, distraction” over the motion being debated.

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Darren Jones repeats there was no pressure put on officials over the Mandelson appointment not to have him vetted.

He also cites Boris Johnson initially denying attending parties during the pandemic in 2020 when it later emerged he had done so and was fined by police.

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