Sir Keir Starmer lied to Parliament over what he knew about Peter Mandelson's relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Kemi Badenoch has claimed on GB News.
The Tory leader argued the Prime Minister was "not fit to lead the country" after the Mandelson files, which released yesterday, showed Sir Keir was warned appointing the peer as ambassador to the US would pose a "reputational risk".
In September, when he fired the peer, the Prime Minister told MPs in the Commons he "never" would have appointed if "he knew then what he knew now".
But the new papers have revealed Sir Keir was repeatedly warned about the risks, with one warning issued from his national security Jonathan Powell who noted the process had been "weirdly rushed".
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After the first batch of documents detailing Lord Mandelson's vetting process to become the UK ambassador were publicly published, the PM has been under intense scrutiny.
Labour's critics have called Sir Keir's judgement into question, with deputy Conservative Xhairman Matt Vickers telling the People's Channel the appointment demonstrated a "failure of judgement".
Today, Mrs Badenoch told GB News she did not believe Sir Keir was fit to be PM, saying: "He lied.
"He stood in Parliament and said he didn't know the full extent of Peter Mandelson's relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Kemi Badenoch slammed Keir Starmer on GB News
|GB NEWS
"Those papers show that he did know that he was warned and he told us that he didn't.
"And I think that if someone can stand up at the despatch box and tell barefaced lies like that, they are not fit to run the country."
She further claimed that he had lied to MPs "over and over again".
The North West Essex MP blasted: "Even yesterday he misrepresents my position, the positions of other MPs in other parties..."
LATEST ON THE PETER MANDELSON SCANDAL:
The first batch of files on Peter Mandelson was released yesterday
|PA
During a fiery exchange over the despatch box at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Sir Keir attempted to take aim at Mrs Badenoch for accusing the RAF of "hanging around" in the Middle East amid the escalating conflict.
But the Tory leader insisted he had misconstrued her words.
On GB News, she continued: "He is not honest. I think it is disgraceful what he has done. This is all about his judgement.
"He wants to make it about Peter Mandelson. But the truth is he is the one who has been dishonest with the country."
"I think the severance payment itself is extremely fishy," Mrs Badenoch added.
The former UK ambassador to the US received a £75,000 taxpayer-funded payout after initially demanding £550,000.
"The Prime Minister said that Peter Mandelson had lied to him, that he had been a disgrace. If that's the truth, then you don't give someone a severance payment," the Tory ridiculed.
"So something very, very fishy has gone on. I think that needs to be looked at."
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