Starmer Faces Calls to Resign Over Mandelson Appointment Scandal

0:00On April 19, Deputy Prime Minister David Lamy says, Prime Minister Keir Starmer would have never picked Lord Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the United States if he knew about the failed security vetting. The appointment went ahead anyway because red flags from the process weren't shared with Downing Street by the Foreign Office. Earlier this week, top Foreign Office civil servants Sir Ali Robbins got ousted over the mess. Lamy called it surprising, noting time pressures to get Mandelson in place right after Donald Trump's return to the White House. Vettin was fast-tracked as a priority, but still came back with a no-go on high-level clearance. Opposition leaders are piling on. With conservatives, liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, and Reform UK, all demanding Starmer resign. They accused him of misleading parliament by saying due process was followed, even though he only learned of the Vettin failure on Tuesday. Now, there's a review underway to check what officials told MPs and the Foreign Affairs Committee once Sir Ali back for questioning on Tuesday.

1:01Event Cooper tapped Nick Dyer to run the Foreign Office civil service in the meantime, while Mandelson's camp calls the sacking egregious. This scandal keeps heating up national security questions, with Starmer insisting officials drop the ball, but the calls for accountability aren't, letting up any time soon.