Keir Starmer told to resign after PM met with howls of laughter over Lord Mandelson appointment

Ed Griffiths
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:59:16 +0000

Sir Keir Starmer has been forced to directly respond to calls for his resignation as MPs raged about his response to Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's Ambassador to the US.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Green Party MP Ellie Chowns both raised the prospect of the Prime Minister's future after Sir Keir accused the Foreign Office of failing to alert No10 about Lord Mandelson's security vetting.

The Prime Minister dismissed all calls for him to resign, instead pointing out that a war remains ongoing in the Middle East.

However, Sir Keir came under pressure after MPs were left howling with laughter at the Prime Minister's admission that the facts surrounding Lord Mandelson's security vetting were "incredible".

Sir Keir looked ashen-faced as he briefly stared down MPs who were then heckling his comments.

The Prime Minister said: “I know many members across the House will find these facts to be incredible.”

After the chorus of laughter died down, Sir Keir added: “To that, I can only say they are right.

"It beggars belief that throughout the whole timeline of events, officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system in Government.

“That is not how the vast majority of people in this country expect politics, government or accountability to work.”

After speaking for almost two hours, Sir Keir rejected the suggestion he had misled MPs.

Responding to Tory MP John Lamont, the Prime Minister fired back: “No, I did not mislead the House of Commons. I accept that information that I should have had and information that the House should have had should have been before the House but I did not mislead the House and that’s why I have set out the account in full.”

Ex-Labour MP ejected from Commons after accusing PM of lying

Ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana has become the second MP to be thrown out of the House of Commons after accusing Sir Keir Starmer of lying.

Ms Sultana said: “We all know that the Prime Minister appointed Mandelson because he owes his job to him.

"He appointed him, he defended him and now he claims to know nothing. He is gaslighting the nation so let’s call it for what it is. The Prime Minister is a barefaced liar.”

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, told Ms Sultana: “Sit and leave, leave now. I’ll name you otherwise, I’d go now if I were you.”

Ms Sultana was ejected from the chamber shortly after Reform UK MP Lee Anderson.

PM says he did not mislead MPs over Lord Mandelson vetting row

The Prime Minister has said he did not mislead the House of Commons on Lord Mandelson's security vetting.

When asked by Tory MP John Lamont about the potential breach in the ministerial code, Sir Keir said: “No, I did not mislead the House of Commons.

"I accept that information that I should have had and information that the House should have had should have been before the House but I did not mislead the House and that’s why I have set out the account in full.”

However, the Prime Minister's official spokesman appeared to admit that Sir Keir did not "knowingly" mislead MPs.

He said: “The Prime Minister would never knowingly mislead Parliament or the public.”

Keir Starmer dodges question on Lord Mandelson's link to Russia

Sir Keir Starmer has dodged a question on whether he knew about Lord Mandelson's link to Russia.

Responding to Tory MP Katie Lam, the Prime Minister said: “I acted on the information that was provided to me in the due diligence process.

“The information that was dealt with in the security vetting process was not made available to me, nor can that information be available to me.”

PM fails to commit to telling MPs that Lord Mandelson hadn't leaked top secret files

Sir Keir Starmer has failed to commit to telling MPs that Lord Mandelson has not leaked top secret files.

Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller said: “Did Peter Mandelson have access to any top secret or Strap material before his access to DV clearance on January 29?

"Did Peter Mandelson have any restrictions placed on his access to top secret or Strap material during his time in Washington?

“And if so has the Prime Minister assured himself that Mandelson did not leak any of this material, just as he had leaked commercially confidential to Jeffrey Epstein under Gordon Brown?”

Sir Keir responded: “I do not understand that he had access to Strap material before he took up his post as ambassador, he did have access after he took up his post and that is why I have ordered a review of any security concerns that may arise.”

Lee Anderson kicked out of Commons after accusing PM of 'lying' about Mandelson

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has been kicked out of the House of Commons after accusing Sir Keir Starmer of "lying" about Lord Mandelson's appointment.

He said: "The problem is no one believes him. The public don't believe him.

"The MPs on this side of the House don't believe him. His own gullible backbenchers don't believe him.

"So does the Prime Minister agree with me? He's been lying."

Mr Anderson was asked to leave the chamber by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle after he refused to retract his statement.

Responding to the Commons Speaker, Reform UK's chief whip added: "I will not withdraw. That man couldn't lie straight in bed."

'Why didn't you ask more?!' Labour veterans turn on Keir Starmer as PM urged to launch urgent probe

Sir Keir Starmer has been hit with an excoriating assessment of his handling of Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's Ambassador to the US.

The Prime Minister, who briefed Labour MPs to ask lowball questions ahead of his statement today, came under fire from veterans Diane Abbott and John McDonnell.

Ms Abbott, who has twice been suspended by Sir Keir, “Peter Mandelson has a history.

"Given what has been known, it’s one thing to say, as he insists on saying: ‘Nobody told me, nobody told me anything, nobody told me’. The question is, why didn’t the Prime Minister ask?”

The Prime Minister replied: “Let me be clear, I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson. As soon as the further revelations came to light, I did ask, I asked the Cabinet Secretary to review the process so I could be assured about the process.”

Just moments later, Sir Keir was urged by another hard-left Labour MP to investigate the links between a prominent think tank and the Prime Minister's allies.

Ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: “Many will appreciate his apology today, but many of us will remain bewildered still why that appointment took place despite the warnings that many of us gave him.”

He added: “The unspoken message to civil servants was what Mandelson wants, Mandelson gets.

"This has damaged the party that I’ve been a member of for 50 years. I urge him to take steps to clear this toxic culture out of our party, and take the first step by having an independent inquiry into Labour Together.”

However, Sir Keir rejected Mr McDonnell's broader claims by instead insisting he had not been provided with the "relevant information".

PM dismisses hard-left Labour MP over inquiry into Lord Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney links

Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed John McDonnell's call for an inquiry into Lord Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney's links to Labour Together.

Mr McDonnell, who served as Shadow Chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, suggested a probe would help "clear this toxic culture out of our party".

He added: "The message that unspoken message to civil servants was what Mandelson wants, Mandelson gets."

However, the Prime Minister rejected the allegations against that Labour Together or any figures on the right of the Labour Party.

'Resign!' Ed Davey doubles down on push to oust PM over Lord Mandelson row

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has doubled down on his call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister.

After pointing out Sir Keir's role in Boris Johnson's departure in 2022, Sir Ed said: "Mr Speaker, after the years of chaos under the Conservatives, we needed a Government focused on the interests of the people, the cost of living crisis, health and care crises, and our national security.

"We needed the Government of honesty, integrity, and accountability.

"So, will the Prime Minister finally accept that the only way he can help to deliver that is to resign?"

Labour MP admits No10 gave 'partial truth' over Lord Mandelson appointment

Labour MP Emily Thornberry has accused No10 of giving just the "partial truth" about Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's Ambassador to the US.

She claimed the Prime Minister's allies were more concerned with getting Lord Mandelson to Washington than with concerns about national security.

Dame Emily, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, told the Prime Minister: "The truth is that my committee did ask.

"We asked on the record, and we got a partial truth that could hardly be the whole truth.

"But we are on record as asking the very questions that hecklers on the other side say should have been asked."

Sir Keir responded by saying he would not have appointed the New Labour grandee if he had known the outcome of the security vetting process.

READ IN FULL: Kemi Badenoch's six questions to Keir Starmer

1. Does the Prime Minister accept that when he said on the floor of the House that full due process was followed, this was not true?

2. On September 11 last year, journalists asked his director of communications if it was true that Mandelson had failed security vetting. These allegations were on the front page of a national newspaper and yet No 10 did not deny the story. Why?

3. Will the Prime Minister repeat from the Despatch Box his words last week, that no one in No10 was aware before Tuesday that Mandelson had failed his vetting?

4. The Prime Minister says he’s furious that he wasn’t told the recommendations of the vetting. Yet on September 16, a Foreign Office minister told Parliament “the national security process is rightly independent of ministers”... This was the Government’s stated process so why is the Prime Minister so furious that it was followed?

5. On February 4, 2026, the Prime Minister told me from the Despatch Box that the security vetting he had received had revealed Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein. How could he say that if he had not seen the security vetting?

6. Systema is a Russian defence company closely linked to the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin’s war machine. Was the Prime Minister aware before the appointment that Lord Mandelson had remained a director of that company long after Russia’s invasion of Crimea?

Kemi Badenoch accuses PM of throwing aides and civil servants under bus over Lord Mandelson's appointment

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the Prime Minister of throwing his aides and civil servants under the bus over the scandal engulfing No10.

"This is a man who once said, 'I will carry the can for the mistakes of any organisation I lead'," Mrs Badenoch said.

"Instead, he has sacked his Cabinet Secretary, he has sacked his director of communications, he has sacked his chief of staff, and he has now sacked the permanent secretary of the Foreign Office."

The Prime Minister was also put under pressure to stick to the standard he set as Leader of the Opposition.

Drawing parallels between the scandal and Boris Johnson's partygate debacle, Mrs Badenoch said: "It is the duty of the Prime Minister to ensure he is telling the truth, or does the ministerial code not apply to him?

"I'm only holding the Prime Minister to the same standard to which he held others.

"On January 26, 2022, the right hjonourable gentleman said to a previous Prime Minister at this dispatch box, 'If he misled the house, he must resign'.

"Does he stand by those words, or is there one rule for him and another for everyone else?"

'Will you repeat it?!' Kemi Badenoch turns up heat on PM

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has set out six questions for Sir Keir Starmer in the Prime Minister's showdown with MPs in the House of Commons.

She said: "Will the Prime Minister repeat from the dispatch box his words last week that no one in No10 was aware before Tuesday that Mandelssohn had failed his vetting?"

Mrs Badenoch added: “The Prime Minister says he only found out on Tuesday that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting.

"The earliest opportunity to correct the record was Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, almost a week ago.

“This is a breach of the ministerial code.”

Southport inquiry chairman to lead security vetting probe, reveals PM

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the chairman of the Southport inquiry will lead an inquiry into the security vetting process.

MPs howl with laughter as PM describes facts of Lord Mandelson scandal as 'incredible'

MPs sitting opposite Sir Keir Starmer burst into howls of laughter after the Prime Minister described the facts of Lord Mandelson's security vetting as "incredible".

Sir Keir looked ashen-faced as he briefly stared down MPs who were then heckling his comments.

The Prime Minister said: “I know many members across the House will find these facts to be incredible.”

After the chorus of laughter died down, Sir Keir added: “To that, I can only say they are right.

"It beggars belief that throughout the whole timeline of events, officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system in Government.

“That is not how the vast majority of people in this country expect politics, government or accountability to work.”

'I don't accept that!' Keir Starmer lashes out at Olly Robbins over Lord Mandelson vetting debacle

Sir Keir Starmer has lashed out at ex-Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins over his role in Lord Mandelson's security vetting.

The Prime Minister told MPs: “The recommendation in the Peter Mandelson case could and should have been shared with me before he took up his post.”

He added: “What I do not accept is that the appointing minister cannot be told of the recommendation by UKSV.

“Indeed, given the seriousness of these issues and the significance of the appointment, I simply don’t accept that Foreign Office officials could not have informed me of UKSV’s recommendations while also maintaining the necessary confidentiality that vetting requires.

“There is no law that stops civil servants sensibly flagging UKSV recommendations, while protecting detailed sensitive vetting information, to allow ministers to make judgments on appointments or explaining matters to Parliament.”

PM changes appointments process following Lord Mandelson scandal

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he has changed the appointments process following the scandal surrounding Lord Mandelson's security vetting.

"I also changed the direct ministerial appointments process," the Prime Minister told MPs.

"So full due diligence is now required as a standard, where risks are identified, an interview must be taken pre-appointment to discuss any risks and conflicts of interest, and a summary of this should be provided to the appointing minister."

'This was normal!' PM tells MPs Lord Mandelson security vetting followed 'usual' procedure

Lord Mandelson's security vetting process followed the "usual" procedure, Sir Keir Starmer has told MPs.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister admitted he made the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson on December 18.

After revealing the vetting process started on December 23, Sir Keir added: “I want to make clear to the House that for a direct ministerial appointment, it was usual for security vetting to happen after the appointment but before starting in post.

"That was the process in place at the time.”

The Prime Minister also cited comments made by Sir Chris Wormald, the former Cabinet Secretary, who told MPs that the "normal thing" to do was give security clearance after an appointment was made.

PM sets out 'staggering' timeline of Lord Mandelson vetting failure

Sir Keir Starmer has set out the "staggring" timeline of Lord Mandelson's failed security vetting.

He told MPs: “Last Tuesday evening, April 14, I found out for the first time that on January 29, 2025, before Peter Mandelson took up his position as ambassador, the Foreign Official officials granted him developed vetting clearance against the specific recommendation of the United Kingdom Security Vetting that developed vetting clearance should be denied.

“Not only that, the Foreign Office officials who made that decision did not pass this information to me, to the Foreign Secretary, to her predecessor, the Deputy Prime Minister, to any other minister, or even to the former cabinet secretary, Sir Chris Wormald.

“I found this staggering and therefore last Tuesday I immediately instructed officials in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office to urgently establish the facts on my authority.”

He added: “I wanted that information for the precise and explicit purpose of updating this House.

"Because this is information I should have had a long time ago and it is information this House should have had a long time ago.”

No10 should have been told about Lord Mandelson's vetting failure, PM says

Sir Keir Starmer has admitted No10 should have been told about Lord Mandelson's security vetting failure.

Addressing MPs in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister said: “This was information I should have had a long time ago.

“It’s information this House should have had a long time ago.”

'I apologise!' PM admits being 'wrong' over Lord Mandelson appointment

Sir Keir Starmer has repeated his apology for appointing Lord Mandelson as the UK's man in Washington.

The Prime Minister told MPs: “Before I go into the details, I want to be very clear with this House that while this statement will focus on the process surrounding Peter Mandelson’s vetting and appointment, at the heart of this there is also a judgment I made that was wrong.

“I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson. I take responsibility for that decision and I apologise again to the victims of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein who were clearly failed by my decision.”

Green leader accuses PM of 'exploiting grief' of Epstein victims

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has accused Sir Keir Starmer of "exploiting grief" by urging Labour MPs to ask about Jeffrey Epstein's victims in today's crunch Commons showdown.

Mr Polanski said: "Keir Starmer actually put this in a briefing to Labour MPs of 'useful questions to ask' today.

"The PM knew of Mandelson's relationship Epstein when he appointed him. And yet thinks he can still exploit the grief of the victims.

"This is why he is not fit to be Prime Minister."

​Keir Starmer addresses Commons after admitting to inadvertently misleading Parliament over Lord Mandelson appointment

Sir Keir Starmer is addressing MPs in the House of Commons in an attempt to explain exactly what he knew about Lord Mandelson's security vetting.

The Prime Minister, who is expected to come out swinging against the Foreign Office's top mandarin, Sir Olly Robbins, is briefing Labour MPs he will swing the axe at civil servants.

However, No10 admitted Sir Keir inadvertently misled MPs just hours before the Prime Minister entered the House of Commons.

“He could not be clearer that the House should have had this information," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

“It was wrong that this information was not provided to the House, and he will provide that update later today.”

A leaked briefing to Labour MPs appears to suggest the Prime Minister's loyalists will pile pressure on the Foreign Office and quote a victim of the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Labour MPs should attack Foreign Office and ask about Jeffrey Epstein's victims, No10 dossier advises

A leaked document from No10 has suggested Labour MPs should attack the Foreign Office and ask the Prime Minister about Jeffrey Epstein's victims.

Labour backbenchers were sent a list of "suggested interventions" as Sir Keir braces for his "day of reckoning".

One question in the list, which was leaked to The Times, said: “I am struck by the fact that a very small group of people in the Foreign Office were not only able to take the decision themselves to overrule the UKSV [UK Security Vetting] recommendation, but also keep that decision to themselves...

“Does the Prime Minister agree that showed an appalling and inexplicable lack of judgment?”

A second question, citing an interview with victim Rachel Bnavidez, added: “Does the Prime Minister agree that we owe it to the hundreds of victims like Rachel to put them first in these debates, and that he was absolutely right to sack someone like Peter Mandelson who refused to believe those victims?”

PICTURED: PM leaves No10 for crunch Commons showdown

Former parliamentary employee arrested as Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle gives a statement on 'security matter' to MPs

A former parliamentary employee was arrested last week under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed the arrest as he gave a statement to MPs on a "security matter".

Hoyle said: "I want to make a brief statement about a security matter.

"I've been informed by the police that a former parliamentary employee was arrested last week under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

"The police investigation is ongoing.

"As you know, we do not discuss the details of such issues on the floor of the House. This is an ongoing criminal investigation.

"I do not intend to take any points of order on this matter. I will update the members when I'm in a position to share more information."

Peter Mandelson spotted on dog walk just moments before Keir Starmer to address Commons

Peter Mandelson was photographed leaving his London home and taking his dog for a walk ahead of Keir Starmer's address to the Commons.

Lord Mandelson made no comment to photographers.

Sir Keir is set to fight to save his job with a statement on exactly what he knew about Lord Mandelson's vetting.

Ex-MI6 boss admits disbelief at 'appalling' Peter Mandelson vetting scandal: 'A complete mess!'

Sir Richard Dearlove has declared his astonishment that David Lammy was apparently kept in the dark about Peter Mandelson's unsuccessful security vetting, branding the scandal a "complete mess".

Speaking to GB News, the former head of MI6 said: "I cannot believe that a Permanent-Under Secretary, when he got the results of the DV, didn't ring up his minister, who he talks to every day, and say to him, 'Look, Mr Lammy, minister, we have a problem, and we have to work out now how we're going to manage that problem'."

Sir Richard was scathing about the Prime Minister's original decision to select Lord Mandelson for the Washington posting.

He said: "The problem ultimately is caused by the Prime Minister choosing an ambassador with a known integrity problem.

"Everybody understood that about Peter Mandelson, if you look at his past record."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'He's toast!' Britons deliver damning verdict on Keir Starmer's future ahead of crunch Commons address

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Nigel Farage takes swipe at Elon Musk as Reform UK leader condemns 'Utterly appalling' online abuse

Nigel Farage has branded social media platform X as a very "unpleasant” and “dangerous” place.

The Reform UK leader said his party’s ethnic minority candidates had received “utterly appalling” online abuse as they prepared for May’s elections in Scotland, Wales and English councils.

Mr Farage and Mr Musk had a warm relationship, with rumours he could channel a donation to his party before Mr Musk called for him to be replaced during a dispute over his support for right-wing activist Tommy Robinson.

Mr Musk, the world’s richest man, acquired Twitter in 2022 before renaming it and reinstating many accounts that had been banned.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr Farage said: "The online abuse on X that our minority candidates are receiving is utterly appalling in every way.

"If it was happening to any other candidates from more established parties in the sense of their age, you would all be in total uproar.

"It really, really is bad.

"X is now becoming a very unpleasant, very dangerous place."

Mr Farage said the number of ethnic minority candidates his party was standing in the elections was "quite remarkable".

Six ways MPs could topple Keir Starmer as PM prepares for Commons showdown

Sir Keir Starmer is just moments away from a crunch showdown with MPs in the House of Commons.

Having dodged a question on his future as Prime Minister on Friday, Sir Keir is now preparing to update MPs on what he knew about Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's Ambassador to the US.

Lord Mandelson, known as the "Prince of Darkness" during his New Labour days, now risks bringing down Sir Keir's Government altogether.

A small gaggle of Labour MPs, the Tory Party and Liberal Democrats have all put pressure on the Prime Minister to resign.

However, when asked whether he will resign, Sir Keir said: "That I wasn't told that he'd failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable."

So, what can MPs actually do to topple the Prime Minister?

GB NEWS MEMBERS CAN READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Sir Olly Robbins confirmed to appear before MPs on Tuesday to answer questions amid Lord Mandelson vetting row

Sir Olly Robbins will appear before MPs on Tuesday to answer questions following the row over Lord Peter Mandelson’s vetting for his appointment as US ambassador, the Foreign Affairs Committee has confirmed.

The sacked secretary's allies say he intends to present his account of events.

He was sacked last Thursday, with the Prime Minister describing the failure to inform him of the vetting outcome as "unforgivable".

Sir Olly argues that he followed the legal processes regarding his civil service vetting responsibilities.

Former colleagues and opposition leaders have criticised the sacking, with some suggesting the secretary was made a "scapegoat" and thrown "under the bus" to protect the Prime Minister's position

Labour asleep at the wheel over Mandelson while Scotland pay the price for the failures of Westminster - John Swinney

The UK Government is "asleep at the wheel", First Minister John Swinney has said, as the Prime Minister faces increasing pressure over his hiring of Peter Mandelson.

Campaigning in Shetland on Monday, Mr Swinney said the UK Government had been distracted by the scandal when the focus should be on helping people with the cost of living.

He said: "The cost-of-living crisis is hurting people right across the country - and when people in Scotland look to their governments for help, the UK Government is asleep at the wheel.

"With people paying through the nose at the petrol pumps and on their energy bills, Keir Starmer and the UK Labour government are so weak and so distracted by the Mandelson scandal that they are doing nothing.”

The First Minister added: “Right now, the UK Labour government could put in place a series of practical measures that the SNP has been calling for – scrapping their hike to fuel duty, removing VAT from fuel and introducing a household energy price cap to save people hundreds of pounds.

"Instead, they have done nothing and are more concerned with saving Keir Starmer’s career than helping people.

"Yet again it is Scotland, and our rural and island communities in particular, that are paying the price for the failures of a Westminster system that just does not work for us."

Nigel Farage tells GB News there is 'no way' Keir Starmer was unaware of Peter Mandelson's failed vetting

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has told GB News that there is "no way" Sir Keir Starmer did not know about Peter Mandelson's failed vetting process.

Speaking to reporter Keith Bays, Mr Farage said: "I just find the whole thing totally incredible. Incredible. There is no way the Prime Minister couldn't have known.

"Are you telling me that everyone around him knew and he didn't know? Well, it's possible that he's just a puppet and never consulted on anything, but frankly, it isn't believable.

"And I do believe strongly that he misled the House of Commons, that he lied to the country especially. He was so definitive in that Hastings speech that all the necessary channels had been gone through, that vetting had been assured.

"No, I think he's caught in a terrible trap. If there's a motion of no confidence put down, yes, we would support it, but it's not going to pass."

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WATCH: Nigel Farage outlines deportation plan and warns illegal migration is a 'genuine threat' to national security

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Kemi Badenoch brands Keir Starmer as ‘recklessly negligent’ over Lord Mandelson ahead of Commons showdown

Kemi Badenoch has branded Sir Keir Starmer "recklessly negligent" and "dishonest" in a letter over the Mandelson scandal.

Writing about the Mandelson scandal, the Conservative leader claimed the Prime Minister had been "contemptuous of Parliament" and "discourteous to the House".

The two are set to go head-to-head in the Commons this afternoon.

In her letter to Sir Keir, Mrs Badenoch said: "This has been a tawdry and shaming affair for you and your party, and for this country.

"Not only have you damaged our relationship with the United States and insulted the victims of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but you have also undermined our national security by giving the highest diplomatic post to an individual that the security services found to be of 'high concern'.

She added: "Instead of another round of blaming everyone else and demeaning the office of Prime Minister, I trust we can look forward to a frank statement in which you will take due responsibility."

WATCH: Labour Secretary of State for Scotland defends Keir Starmer amid calls to resign

Douglas Alexander has defended Sir Keir Starmer, claiming the Prime Minister has not misled Parliament and lied to the public.

The Secretary of State for Scotland told GB News: "The Prime Minister is being alleged by the leader of the opposition to have knowingly misled Parliament and lied to the public. That is not true.

"The Prime Minister will set out why that's not true when he speaks at the dispatch box of the House of Commons just behind me this afternoon.

"For that claim to be true would require you to set aside what's a growing body of evidence that would suggest every minister involved in this decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a growing number of senior civil servants and indeed the friends and allies of Olly Robbins, the former secretary at the Foreign Office, were all part of some grand conspiracy not to tell the truth.

"It's simply not the case."

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Public will get to see 'angry Starmer' in the Commons later today, No 10 sources say

No 10 sources have said the public will get to see "angry Starmer" in the Commons later today.

The Prime Minister will make clear his "fury" with Sir Olly Robbins, the sacked Foreign Office civil servant, according to The Times.

Sir Keir claims he was not aware the Foreign Office had granted Lord Peter Mandelson vetting clearance against recommendations until a meeting on Tuesday night.

On Friday, the Prime Minister said it was "staggering" and "unacceptable" that he was not told the former US ambassador had failed his security vetting as he fought to save his job.

Speaking from Paris, Mr Starmer said: "That I wasn't told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering.

"That I wasn't told that he had failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable.

"Not only was I not told, no minister was told, and I'm absolutely furious about that."

Today will be the first time the Prime Minister has addressed the Commons since last Wednesday.

Deadline day to register to vote in May 7 elections

Anyone not yet registered to vote in the elections taking place in England, Scotland and Wales on May 7 has only a few hours left to apply.

The deadline to register is 11.59pm on Monday.

Elections are being held on May 7 to elect members of the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd in Wales, while some 5,013 council seats in England are up for grabs across 136 local authorities.

Some 42,827 applications to register to vote were submitted on Sunday, April 19, the highest on a single day so far this year, Government figures show.

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The contests on May 7 represent a crucial test at the ballot box for all political parties.

'Kemi Badenoch will lead the charge' - Chairman of the Conservative Party tells GB News

The Chairman of the Conservative Party, Kevin Hollinrake, has told GB News that Kemi Badenoch will lead the charge in calling for Keir Starmer's resignation.

Speaking to the People's Channel, the MP for Thirsk and Malton said: "We've led the way on this right from the start.

"Kemi Badenoch brought this to parliament in September last year about the issues with Mandelson and which led to his resignation, and we followed this all the way through.

"So, for the parties that want to support our efforts to hold the Prime Minister to account for his terrible lack of judgement, appalling judgement, they are welcome to do so.

"Kemi Badenoch again will lead the charge on this in Parliament today. And we think the Prime Minister is not fit to leave this country and should resign."

Kemi Badenoch says Lord Mandelson row was 'an issue of national security'

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the Lord Mandelson row was "an issue of national security".

She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: "Somebody who was a national security risk, and this had been flagged, was put into the most senior and sensitive diplomatic post, where all sorts of information, intelligence, which I would not have seen as a secretary of state, would have come across his desk. A national security issue.

"And what I find really shocking is how so many people’s careers are being ended over this, but the Prime Minister is not taking responsibility.

"He’s throwing everybody under a bus.”

Mrs Badenoch said that, ultimately, it would be Labour MPs who had to decide the Prime Minister’s fate.

She added: "I’ve already said that he should resign, I don’t think that he will resign."

"He’s going to cling on. He will throw everybody under a bus, including his own MPs who are, some of them, going out to defend him.

"Sadly, the public did not give enough Conservative MPs to bring down the Labour Prime Minister. It’s Labour MPs who can do that.

"They will have to look in their own hearts and decide whether they want to be complicit in this cover-up."

'The Prime Minister should be gone!' Liberal Democrat MP slams Keir Starmer for 'catastrophically poor judgement'

The Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart has criticised Sir Keir Starmer over his "catastrophically poor judgement" on the handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal.

She told GB News: "The Prime Minister should be gone.

"He has shown catastrophically poor judgement throughout this whole sorry Peter Mandelson scandal, and he'll be coming to the House of Commons today. He'll have a lot of questions to answer.

"Did he know? What did he know? When and why didn't he come to the house when he said he did know? He said he did know last Tuesday and he came to Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, and he didn't mention it.

"That's why we of the Liberal Democrats have said he should go on his poor judgement.

"But we've also said that he should be referred to his own ethics Adviser and also the Privileges Committee to investigate what happened, when it happened, and whether there were any breaches of the ministerial code.

"We're talking about some of the very most sensitive positions that our Government can appoint, the ambassador to the United States of America.

She added: "This whole thing is just a sorry series of catastrophically poor judgement from the Prime Minister. And he should go."

Russian agents targeted Lord Mandelson for decades and closely monitored relationship with Epstein

Peter Mandelson was a key person of interest to the Russian state and targeted by Moscow during his time as a Labour peer, it has been revealed.

The former British Ambassador to the US, who was sacked due to links to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, had failed security vetting for his appointment to the country's most prized diplomatic position.

Security was aware of Moscow's interest throughout the years, stretching back to before his most recent diplomatic position, according to fresh reports.

The interest began in 2004, when Lord Mandelson became European Commissioner for Trade, according to the Telegraph.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Ed Miliband to double down on Net Zero and declare fossil fuel era 'over' as energy crisis deepens

Ed Miliband will deliver a major address on Tuesday, setting out fresh energy measures designed to tackle the crisis triggered by the conflict with Iran.

The Energy Secretary intends to reaffirm Labour's dedication to achieving Net Zero, arguing surging fossil fuel costs demonstrate the urgent need for Britain to embrace renewable power.

He is expected to say: "As we face the second global energy shock in less than five years, the lesson for our country is clear; the era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age."

The speech comes as oil markets remain volatile following dashed hopes that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, with prices set to climb roughly four per cent today.

Mr Miliband will also use the address to push back against those advocating expanded North Sea drilling, a position championed by the Conservatives and Reform since oil prices surged past $100 per barrel in March.

He is expected to say: "I do not agree with those who say we should 'turn off the taps' overnight. But nor do I agree with those who suggest that somehow 'drilling every last drop' will take a penny off bills or give us energy security."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Away from Labour... Reform UK pledges to deport 400,000 asylum seekers and 'reverse the invasion of Britain'

Nigel Farage is set to announce that a Reform UK Government would deport as many as 400,000 asylum seekers who broke into Britain illegally.

The Reform chief is set to commit to an immediate examination of all asylum decisions made over the past five years.

The review would track down anyone who entered illegally or overstayed their visa and subsequently claimed asylum - which home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf pledged would "reverse the invasion of Britain".

"Reform will reverse this. Today we announce that a Reform Government will review the previous five years of asylum grants, and anyone who broke into the country illegally or overstayed on another visa will be stripped of their status and deported. We will do what it takes to restore justice in Britain," he added.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Labour's Lord Glasman leads calls for PM to resign - 'He CANNOT continue!'

Labour peer Lord Glasman has led calls from within Sir Keir Starmer's own party for the PM to resign with a withering attack yesterday.

"He cannot conceivably continue as a credible Prime Minister any longer. And that's all because he cannot say: 'I made a mistake, I'm sorry,'" the Blue Labour heavyweight warned.

When asked last night if he would apologise to MPs, Sir Keir told the Mirror: "I shall be making it absolutely crystal clear, as I have done a number of times - and I don't think anybody is disputing this - that I was not told that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting, and I should have been told."

Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey went on to accuse the PM of "catastrophic misjudgement" - and has demanded he face an inquisition from MPs on the privileges committee as well as a probe by the Government's ethics watchdog for alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code.

On Tuesday... Olly Robbins sets out the counter-argument

Sir Olly Robbins will have a day to reel from the PM's Commons statement before he answers questions from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on the Lord Mandelson scandal on Tuesday.

He is currently reported to to be taking legal advice over his sacking as Foreign Office chief.

The Guardian reports Sir Olly feels "angry" at what he believes to be his "unfair treatment" by Sir Keir Starmer - and is determined to put out his side of the story.

RECAP: Keir Starmer 'WAS told about Lord Mandelson's red flags - then waved them away'

Sir Keir Starmer was told about the the warning signs which made Lord Mandelson fail his developed vetting security clearance, it has been revealed.

On Monday, the Prime Minister will tell the Commons it was "unforgivable" that he was not told that the Labour grandee had failed the process prior to his appointment as US ambassador.

But it has now been claimed that Sir Keir was already aware of his "red flags" ahead of the security protocol - then went ahead with his appointment anyway.

The UK Security Vetting agency (UKSV) recommended the rejection due to Lord Mandelson's ties to China and Russia, insiders said.

The Government claimed last week that the Prime Minister would have pulled the appointment if he had been made aware of the rejection.

“The reality is that Starmer had already been warned about the major risks and he had waved them away," one senior Whitehall source told The Telegraph.