Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of employees speaks out after accusations he pressured International Workplace over disgraced peer’s safety vetting
Morgan McSweeney to seem at International Affairs Committee
Morgan McSweeney has damaged his silence on the Lord Mandelson scandal amid claims he swore at officers whereas urgent them to approve the disgraced peer’s vetting. The previous chief of employees to the Prime Minister give up over the furore in February, saying he took “full duty” for advising Sir Keir Starmer to nominate the Labour grandee as ambassador to the US.
Former International Workplace chief Sir Olly Robbins this week claimed No 10 took a “dismissive” strategy to Lord Mandelson’s vetting, with others suggesting Mr McSweeney referred to as the division to say “simply f****** approve it”. In line with the BBC, Mr McSweeney responded to questions on the Kyiv Safety Convention on Thursday with the seven-word remark: “I don’t recognise that description of me.” He added: “I discover it unusual studying a couple of character with the identical title as mine typically, however yeah, I don’t recognise that character.”
Learn extra: Second Keir Starmer eviscerated by his personal livid MP – ‘You have to resign’
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Morgan McSweeney, pictured on the Girl Mayor’s Banquet, spoke on the Kyiv Safety Convention (Picture: Getty)
Mr McSweeney – who helped mastermind Sir Keir’s 2024 election win – is because of give bombshell proof to MPs on the International Affairs Choose Committee on Tuesday over Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
The peer was appointed in December 2024, however sacked by the Prime Minister a number of months later when revelations in regards to the ambassador’s hyperlinks to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein got here to gentle.
A furore has since damaged out over Lord Mandelson’s vetting, with claims that he failed safety checks however was allowed to take up the posting anyway.
Sir Olly, who was dismissed as everlasting under-secretary of the International Workplace for not telling the PM about Lord Mandelson’s vetting, insists he adopted right process always.
Throughout his proof to MPs on the International Affairs Committee this week, Sir Olly stated No 10 questioned whether or not the peer wanted vetting in any respect, given his background as a senior cupboard minister.
Requested additional about Lord Mandelson’s appointment on Thursday, Mr McSweeney stated he had taken duty for his position.
“I feel it’s proper to take duty once you get the decision mistaken,” he added.
Sir Keir has come beneath intense strain over the scandal, with opponents and Labour MPs calling for him to resign.
The Prime Minister has apologised for appointing Lord Mandelson, claiming the peer lied to him about his hyperlinks to Epstein.
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