Starmer will not resign over fresh Mandelson revelation, minister insists

Politics
17 Apr 2026 • 3:08 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Starmer will not resign over fresh Mandelson revelation, minister insists

  • Sir Keir Starmer is under renewed pressure regarding Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador after it was revealed the Foreign Office overruled security vetting.
  • The prime minister is facing calls for his resignation, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggesting he should step down if he misled parliament or broke the ministerial code.
  • Sir Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant, has resigned from his role following the revelations about the vetting process.
  • Sir Keir had previously insisted that due process was followed and that Lord Mandelson had lied about the extent of his links with financier Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Chief secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, has confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer is not considering resigning from his position despite the controversy.

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