Speaker Allows Vote on Privileges Committee Referral
Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle ruled on Monday that he would grant a debate and vote on PM Sir Keir Starmer being referred to the influential Privileges Committee for allegedly misleading parliament – what UK media have dubbed the ‘Mandelson sleaze row’.
Hoyle, who is ostensibly neutral – but is also a former Labour MP on Starmer’s own side – is allowed to reject such requests if ‘frivolous’ – and decided that it was not in this case.
“Privileges issues should only be brought to the House sparingly, and it is my duty to act as a gatekeeper to ensure that frivolous applications are not taken forward,” he said. “As a gatekeeper, my role is to decide whether Honourable Member has made a case which the House itself should be able to consider, not to decide whether someone is likely to have committed a contempt.”
Debate to Decide Whether Inquiry Proceeds
“In this case, having taken advice, I’ve decided to allow the House to come to a view on whether the Committee of Privileges should look at the matter. It is not for me to make any decision or view therefore the leader of the opposition will have the opportunity to put the matter to the house tomorrow.”
The debate – on whether the underfire PM misled the House over his Epstein-linked former US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson – takes place on Tuesday. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said it meant Starmer would be held ‘to the same standards he held others’. Starmer’s own office called it a “desperate political stunt”.
Allegations Over Mandelson Appointment
Last week, former foreign office civil servant Sir Olly Robbins said there was ‘constant pressure’ from the PM’s team over Mandelson’s vetting – which Starmer denied. The PM fired Mandelson after links to the late paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein came back into the spotlight – and claimed he was ‘lied to’.
Badenoch has said the appointment was a ‘national security’ risk. Mandelson has also denied wrongdoing.
Historical Context: Privileges Committee Power
The committee is that which investigated – and ultimately brought down – PM Boris Johnson over the ‘Covid partygate’ scandal, which saw aides socialise in Number 10 while much of the country was ‘locked down’.
Article by viory
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