Ex-Labour MP casts huge doubt over Keir Starmer ahead of major sleaze vote: 'His position is untenable!'

Georgia Pearce
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:43:33 +0000

A former Labour MP has cast major doubt on Sir Keir Starmer's position ahead of a possible sleaze probe into whether he misled MPs.

Speaking to GB News, Graham Jones declared the Prime Minister's position is "untenable" and the recollection of events in appointing Lord Peter Mandelson "doesn't stack up".

Mr Jones argued: "I think the Prime Minister's in a very difficult position. I think it's untenable.

"And we're expected to believe that none of these people told the Prime Minister. I just don't believe it."

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Expressing his disbelief further, he declared: "I just find that an absolutely incredible story that doesn't stack up, that somebody didn't tell Keir Starmer that Peter Mandelson had failed the security vetting.

"I just don't believe when he tells us that he didn't find out till April. I just find that incredible and there are many other reasons why this story doesn't stack up."

Questioned by host Ellie Costello on whether he agrees that Labour MPs should be whipped on the vote, Mr Jones was quick to disagree.

He made clear: "I think that whipping it is wrong because obviously we need clarity, we need the judicial process - what have you got to hide? That's how the public see it.

"I think it's foolish of the Government. I think foolish in the sense that if he's innocent, the Prime Minister, then it should go ahead.

"But of course, if he feels a sense of guilt and No10 think that this could be the end, then they're going to block it, which I think is terrible politics."

He added: "And I think that's how the public see it. I think they see this as somebody who's trying to block the system so they don't get found out."

Pressed by host Alex Armstrong on whether Sir Keir can recover his position after the vote takes place, Mr Jones admitted if he was advising the Prime Minister, he would tell him he has "zero chance" of recovery.

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Mr Jones told GB News: "Well, if I was advising the Prime Minister, the best news I could give him is he's got zero chance."

Sir Keir is also facing criticism from the Conservatives ahead of the vote, with Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart claiming "a lot of Labour MPs are absolutely furious" with the Prime Minister for being "serially dishonest".

He told GB News: "The Conservatives have been leading on this, but we're working with all of the other opposition parties as well, because it's very obvious what's happened here. The Prime Minister has misled the House.

"The Prime Minister lied to Parliament and then refused to admit that he'd done anything wrong, and so we're starting this formal process."

Mr Burghart added: "The vote today is just on whether that will be formally investigated by a cross-party group of MPs, and the fact that the Labour Party doesn't want that investigation to go ahead, it’s very clear that they've got something to hide, very clear that the Prime Minister's got something to hide.

"He's getting desperate, because he knows that if that committee looks into it, he'll be found guilty."

In a statement, a No10 spokesman told GB News: "The Government is engaging with the two parliamentary processes that are already running on Peter Mandelson’s appointment with full transparency.

"This is a desperate political stunt by the Conservative Party the week before the May elections because they have no answers on the cost of living or the NHS. Their claims have no substance."