British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will not face an investigation over allegations that he misled Parliament concerning former ambassador Peter Mandelson, following a decisive vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
After more than five hours of debate, Members of Parliament voted 335 to 223 against a motion led by the Conservative Party that sought to refer Starmer to the Privileges Committee for investigation.
Starmer had previously dismissed the move as a "political stunt" by his opponents, insisting that he only became aware of the security clearance issues surrounding Mandelson's appointment in mid-April.
The controversy stems from Mandelson's appointment as British ambassador to the United States, which was marred by revelations that he had been denied security clearance in January 2025. Despite this, the UK Foreign Office overturned the decision, leading to his posting.
Starmer stated that "full due process" had been followed, a claim contested by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. However, MPs ultimately sided with the Prime Minister.
Mandelson was dismissed from his post in September 2025 after his associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light. Earlier this year, he was briefly arrested as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.
The vote marks a significant political victory for Starmer, allowing him to avoid a potentially damaging inquiry and focus on his government's agenda.
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British PM Starmer not to face investigation over Mandelson issue
cgtn.com
