UK PM Starmer vows not to resign over US envoy appointment scandal
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted he will not resign over the controversy surrounding his appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Starmer said allegations that he misled MPs about the appointment had been “put to bed” after evidence given by the Foreign Office’s former top civil servant, Olly Robbins. Robbins was fired last week over the row. Starmer has faced intense pressure after admitting it was an error of judgment to push ahead with Mandelson’s posting despite red flags raised during security vetting. He had previously told lawmakers that “all due process” was followed. The prime minister now argues he would not have allowed the appointment to proceed had he been told that independent vetting officials recommended denying Mandelson security clearance. He told MPs that Robbins answered “no” when […]
