Nigel Farage has said he “does not accept” Sir Keir Starmer’s account of events surrounding the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson, following what he described as “damning” evidence given by former senior civil servant Sir Olly Robbins.
Speaking after the evidence session, Farage claimed the testimony raised serious questions about the handling of the ambassadorial appointment process and intensified scrutiny on the Prime Minister’s role.
He said the emerging account from Whitehall officials directly contradicted Downing Street’s version of events and suggested there were still unanswered questions over how due diligence concerns were handled at the highest level of government.
The intervention adds further political pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, as opposition figures seek to capitalise on allegations that proper vetting procedures may not have been fully followed in the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.
Downing Street has not yet responded directly to Farage’s comments, but has previously rejected suggestions that due process was bypassed.
Speaking to reporters, the Reform UK leader said: “He may not have been told by Olly Robbins specifically about the failure of vetting, but the other things that Robbins said were damning, namely that the appointment was made before vetting had been carried out and against the advice of the cabinet secretary, and that there had been a number of red flags all the way along the road.
“So no, I don’t accept this at all.
“Even without the official vetting, it was pretty obvious that Mandelson was the wrong candidate for America.”
On Monday Lee Anderson was ordered to leave the House of Commons after refusing to withdraw remarks accusing Sir Keir Starmer of lying during a heated exchange over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.
The Reform UK MP was expelled by the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, after repeatedly defying calls to retract his language during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Anderson launched a sustained attack on Sir Keir following a statement to MPs on the circumstances surrounding Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the United States, claiming: “No one believes him. The public don’t believe him. The MPs on this side of the House don’t believe him.”
He then pressed the Prime Minister directly, asking whether he agreed he had been “lying”, before escalating his language further.
Intervening, Sir Lindsay cautioned the MP over his choice of words and urged him to withdraw the remark. “Sorry, we don’t use those words, and I’m sure the member’s withdrawn it?” the Speaker said.
Anderson refused, responding: “Mr Speaker, I have the greatest respect for you and your office, but I will not withdraw. That man couldn’t lie straight in bed.”
The Speaker immediately ordered him to leave the chamber. “Order! Mr Anderson, you’ll have to leave,” Sir Lindsay said.
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