Sir Keir Starmer was accused last night of ‘Houdini-like contortions’ to avoid rebuking Peter Mandelson over a ‘flagrant breach’ of diplomatic service rules.
The Prime Minister faced pressure to explain how Lord Mandelson, now UK ambassador to the US, had not flouted clear political impartiality rules by speaking at a Labour party fundraiser.
The accusations came after the Mail on Sunday revealed that the ex-Labour Cabinet Minister had spoken at an event earlier this summer to raise money for Labour MPs’ Gregor Poynton and Imogen Walker, wife of Sir Keir’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
Labour responded at the time by insisting that Lord Mandelson, chosen over career diplomats by Sir Keir to be his man to deal with Donald Trump, had attended the event ‘in a personal capacity’ and did not play ‘any formal role in it’.
But the row dramatically escalated yesterday after the Government appeared to suggest that the manner of Lord Mandelson’s appointment would affect how strict diplomatic service rules were applied.
