Keir Starmer torn apart by Lib Dem MP as he backs Tory-led sleaze probe vote: 'Disgraceful!'

Georgia Pearce
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:26:08 +0000

A Liberal Democrat MP has launched a scathing attack against Sir Keir Starmer, branding him "disgraceful" over the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.

Speaking to GB News, Ben Maguire outlined his support for the vote into a sleaze probe, led by the Tories.

Mr Maguire told GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope: "I think what we've seen in the last few weeks is, quite frankly, disgraceful.

"I was elected in July 2024, and one of the big motivations I had to stand for election and to represent my community was the horrendous sleaze week after week we saw with the past Conservative Government, and I was really proud that the Liberal Democrats actually held Boris Johnson to account on the Privileges Committee."

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Comparing the last sleaze scandal of Boris Johnson to the latest scandal facing Sir Keir, Mr Maguire argued Britons have been put in the same situation "yet again".

He said: "People voted in that election and they saw great hope in the new Labour Government, and yet here we are, we've got a Prime Minister that's now facing a vote in the House of Commons yet again, potentially being put before the Privileges Committee.

"And I hear from my constituents every day how deeply disappointed they are with this Labour Government and in particular, Keir Starmer, who clearly knew Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein.

"And here we go again. Quite frankly, it's getting pretty boring to see Prime Minister after Prime Minister, first the Conservatives, now Labour, go through this process."

Offering a bleak verdict for Sir Keir, Mr Maguire admitted that he "doesn't see any way out" for the PM.

He told GB News: "And let's be blunt about this, our economy is suffering as a result of this constant political instability that we've seen with the Conservatives and that we're seeing now with the Labour Government.

"So it's deeply, deeply disappointing, and I really just don't see any way out of this for the Prime Minister."

Christopher pushed back on Mr Maguire's criticism, questioning whether the scandal is merely an issue for the "Westminster bubble" and not the British public.

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Mr Maguire responded: "I think there's an element to that. Lots of my constituents are deeply concerned about the rising fuel costs, particularly in an area like mine, which is a really rural community.

"People rely on their cars and they're increasingly finding it completely unaffordable to fill up their tanks thanks to Donald Trump's illegal war in Iran.

"And we've been pushing the Government to go much further on helping with the cost of living crisis, cut fuel duty by 10p a litre, and give people cheaper transport."

Christopher pushed back again, asking why he is "making a case" for today's vote when he is highlighting more pressing matters for Britons.

Mr Maguire argued: "We obviously need to hold our political leaders held to account, we can't just have prime ministers doing absolutely whatever they like, potentially breaching standards.

"And I think it's only right and proper that our Prime Minister, the highest office in the land, should be held accountable for the decisions he's made. And let's face it, the ambassador to the United States, isn't it a very junior or minor role.

"That's a very, very important post that the Prime Minister, it seems, has applied a lot of pressure, certainly his team at No10, on the Foreign Office to make sure Peter Mandelson was appointed to that role. So it's only right and proper that us as MPs and parliamentarians hold the Prime Minister to account."

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."