'Absolutely shocking!' Ex-Labour MP urges Keir Starmer to 'accept responsibility' amid Peter Mandelson row

Georgia Pearce
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:24:50 +0000

A former Labour MP has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to "take responsibility" amid the ongoing Peter Mandelson row.

Speaking to GB News, Graham Jones said the latest revelation the disgraced peer failed security vetting is "absolutely shocking".

The Prime Minister will take to the dispatch box on Monday afternoon to clarify details on exactly what he knew and when regarding Lord Mandelson's appointment.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has penned an angry letter to Sir Keir ahead of his address, branding him "recklessly negligent" and "dishonest".

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Discussing the scandal on GB News, Mr Jones said the revelation is just "one in a sequence of messes" in the Labour Government.

He said: "It's one in a sequence of messes. It's just ongoing and I think we could file this in under 'the dog ate my homework'.

"I think the evidence is compelling that No10 did know about this. We expect No10 to run efficiently and that in some capacity, the Prime Minister or those representing the Prime Minister knew full well what had gone on."

Mr Jones suggested Sir Keir "wanted" Lord Mandelson appointed in the Washington post, and Olly Robbins "fixed it" for him.

He argued: "Probably they wanted him, and people like Olly Robbins just fixed it. It's more than an unholy mess, it's absolutely shocking what's going on."

Calling on the Prime Minister to "leave office" in light of the scandal's latest revelation, Mr Jones told GB News: "I think that it was Keir Starmer himself who said leaders must accept responsibility.

"And I think today is the day he must accept responsibility, and that responsibility is the same as Boris Johnson, he must leave office."

Pressed on whether he believes Keir Starmer was told about Lord Mandelson's failed vetting, Mr Jones said he thinks the Prime Minister was informed "in one way or another".

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He said: " I think in some form or other, he was told. Now whether that was just a throwaway comment, I think it probably was more than that, whether he had a busy day thinking about other things.

"But he runs 10 Downing Street, he's responsible for the staff, the staff are responsible to him. If the staff are, by and large, responsible for this, he must carry the can.

"And I believe those are his own words, and he must carry the can, because he must have known about it. And I think that No10 did know about it, and therefore I think he ought to go."

Mr Jones made clear: "I reinforce what I said before, this is just a constant sequence of oh, yeah, well, let's correct the record because we've been found out."

Mr Jones stressed the Labour Government must "take responsibility" and "hold office with virtue".

He concluded: "I'm sorry, this isn't just a one off. This isn't just a mistake, this is a rotten culture, you can see it in front of your eyes, that's what voters think.

"And I think we have a responsibility as Labour politicians to face up to that and to deal with it, not to run away. If you want to hold office, you must hold office, and you must hold office with virtue, and you must hold office with responsibility, and you must be accountable.

"And when the day comes that you are somewhere involved in some of these issues, you must accept that responsibility. And those are the very words that Keir Starmer as leader of the opposition presented to Boris Johnson across the despatch box, so I don't see what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander."