Sir Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure following his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to Washington.
The Conservative leader has called for an ethics investigation into the matter. Kemi Badenoch has demanded a probe, accusing the Prime Minister of failing to address concerns about the appointment adequately.
During a visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday, Starmer issued an apology, but it has done little to ease the criticism. Both the Conservatives and Reform UK are ramping up their pressure on the Prime Minister over the controversy.
On Thursday night, Badenoch intensified her criticism, with Conservative officials sending a letter requesting an investigation into the release of a 147-page dossier that surfaced on Wednesday.
This development risks further deepening the political controversy surrounding the government’s handling of the appointment and could lead to increased scrutiny of Sir Keir in the days ahead.
Badenoch said: “I am astonished the Prime Minister can actually look himself in the mirror right now.
“It is very clear that he told lie after lie after lie about the appointment of Peter Mandelson.
“He has been dishonest with Parliament and with the country.”
“And Labour MPs, in good conscience, should be looking at whether or not this man should be leading our country.”
Sir James Cleverly told GB News: “He always tries to blame other people, this is on him.”
“The Prime Minister told us that he was lied to by Peter Mandelson.
We now find out, in reporting in The Times, that he didn’t even speak to Peter Mandelson before appointing him.
“The Prime Minister is changing his story over and over again.”
He added: “He always tries to blame other people, this is on him.”
Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart told the peoples channel: “The evidence that came out in the Mandelson files this week shows that Peter Mandelson was receiving very high-level briefings before the vetting had been concluded.
“I suggested that the Prime Minister should refer himself to his ethics adviser because what he has said doesn’t quite match up with what the evidence suggests.”
No10 consistently denies there has been a cover-up.
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