Starmer says he's changed the process so that public announcements are not made until vetting is completed, which is exactly the process that Simon Case put to Starmer in the first place.
Was that the Simon Case on extended sick leave and duplicitous in countless Tory era scandals.
Of course he was ignored.
Nobody wanted him there.
Always best to sack off national security because you dont like a guy in the office
Develop a plan for them to acquire the necessary security clearances (not acquire, but develop a plan by which they will acquire)
and (separate line item follows)
do due diligence on any potential conflicts of interest or other issues you should be aware of before confirming your choice (we'll have a scoot round whilst the security clearance is ongoing, and let you know about any issues that would prevent prior confirmation) (be interesting to know how that informal process went, wouldn't it!)
The formal security clearance can be read as an offline process to the due diligence in this and it does not say what Sam Coates thinks it says.
My conclusion: Starmer is not bang to rights on the basis of this passage.
She needs to go harder on the national newspaper bit. I think it was the indie that approached No 10 to say they had information that Mandelson had failed the security checks and it was dealt with by the chief of comms (Tim Allan?). It beggars belief that he did not speak to PM about this.
The biggest apppointment outside Cabinet the PM will make - and he is not told that he failed vetting but its OK, we let him through anyway?
Are the PLP really going to let this drag on further?
For how long?
Yes, if Starmer was Tory leader and PM Tory MPs would already have removed him or forced his resignation.
Labour MPs however couldn't hit a 20 foot wide, 50 foot high target at point blank range! No Labour leader has ever been voted out of office by Labour MPs or Labour members or even forced to resign at a time not of their choosing apart from possibly Blair in 2007 but only after 13 years as leader and for the crime of not being leftwing enough!
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
If he found out on Tuesday last week, why didn't he make a statement last week?
He found out on Tuesday night. Parliament programme for Wednesday and SKS already set
He had a key Globally important meeting on Thursday. Parliament didn't sit Friday.
Today is the first day.
Badenoch is being frivolous Vexacious and wholly desperate.
No surprise when she is lazy works 3 days a week and works mainly on Twatter
Bollocks
Statement to the house befire PMQs innit
"New information has come to light. I have ordered an immediate investigation. As soon as I receive this information I will report back to the house, but for now I am here to discharge my duties and responsibilities to the house under the ministerial code"
Adidas, who are the kit manufacturer for Liverpool, tweeted this after yesterday's Merseyside derby and the fume from the Evertonians in the replies are a thing of beauty.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
If he found out on Tuesday last week, why didn't he make a statement last week?
He found out on Tuesday night. Parliament programme for Wednesday and SKS already set
He had a key Globally important meeting on Thursday. Parliament didn't sit Friday.
Today is the first day.
Badenoch is being frivolous Vexacious and wholly desperate.
No surprise when she is lazy works 3 days a week and works mainly on Twatter
Doesn't matter about the Parliamentary programme. I'm such circumstances time would have been found. Its bollocks to suggest the day was full and time not available.
Q252 Sir Oliver Robbins: To answer the other part of your question, he did not hold national security vetting when he was appointed, but, as is normally the case with external appointments to my Department and the wider civil service, the appointment was made subject to obtaining security clearance.
Q254 Sir Chris Wormald: Let me add, because it may be helpful, that when we are making appointments from outside the civil service, which obviously happens a lot more regularly than it does for ambassadors, the normal thing is for the security clearance to happen after appointment but before the person signs a contract and takes up post.
Q258 Fleur Anderson: For this appointment specifically, Sir Olly, the Cabinet Secretary said that “a thorough process to understand and consider” Lord Mandelson’s “private interests” was carried out as part of “the usual ambassadorial appointments process”. There wasn’t a panel interview so who carried out that assessment? Having done so, did they decide that any mitigations were required to prevent any conflicts of interest?
Sir Oliver Robbins: An external appointee to the senior reaches of the service will always be asked to fill in a conflict of interest form. I am very happy to share a copy of that standard form with the Committee if it would help. It is an opportunity for the candidate to set out the issues that they think might actually raise or potentially raise or be perceived as raising a conflict of interest. That process was completed in Lord Mandelson’s case and his appointment was subject to him going through that process with us. The way in which we then discuss with him any of those perceived conflicts is obviously a confidential matter between him and us, but the process was followed rigorously.
Q259 Fleur Anderson: You say “us”. Who was it that carried that out? Sir Oliver Robbins: That is for his employer, i.e. the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Q260 Fleur Anderson: Was it you? Who did it? Sir Oliver Robbins: He submitted his form. That was assessed in the usual way and I did indeed have a conversation with him before he took up his appointment.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Can i refer back to my previous answer?
Bollocks
I wonder whether he actually believes any of what he writes or if he's on a per word payment plan and gets a bonus every time he write Kemi.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Last year's estimated NEV for the 2025 local elections was significantly lower than the opinion poller's rolling average. A similar drop this year would see Labout at <15%.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Nasty homophobia from you.
I am trying to remember who said that character is revealed by fear and drink.
The later makes me think of a good friend, who gets ever more elaborately courteous as he gets drunk.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Nasty homophobia from you.
I apologise
I was not giving a personal view but what I genuinely hear as a public perception.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Nasty homophobia from you.
I apologise
I was not giving a personal view but what I genuinely hear as a public perception.
I don't think he can survive this. Final thrust of the dagger from that most unlikely assassin, Diane Abbott.
MC Donnell and Abbott are a stain on the true Labour Party
Been stealing a living that should be investigated under the trades descriptions act. They have never been Team Labour. Only when Labour was hijacked by London Communists.
That said. They delivered far better questions that Twitter queen
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
I don't think he can survive this. Final thrust of the dagger from that most unlikely assassin, Diane Abbott.
MC Donnell and Abbott are a stain on the true Labour Party
Been stealing a living that should be investigated under the trades descriptions act. They have never been Team Labour. Only when Labour was hijacked by London Communists.
That said. They delivered far better questions that Twitter queen
Thornberry suggesting Mandelson jumped the gun announcing his appointment himself
Fuck it, ill announce myself as Home Secretary if its that easy
Are you a masochist ? Not the cabinet post I'd pick.
I do love a bit of pain tbf
What we need is a Home Sec in the style of Churchill.
I liked the picture of him at the Siege of Sidney Street - using a brick wall for cover. Unlike the soldiers and policemen trying to hide behind a shop window.
I don't think he can survive this. Final thrust of the dagger from that most unlikely assassin, Diane Abbott.
MC Donnell and Abbott are a stain on the true Labour Party
Been stealing a living that should be investigated under the trades descriptions act. They have never been Team Labour. Only when Labour was hijacked by London Communists.
That said. They delivered far better questions that Twitter queen
Starmer says that he wouldn't have made the appointment if the information was made available to him, but he'd already made the appointment by then, in defiance of the recommendation he received on process from the cabinet secretary.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Nasty homophobia from you.
I apologise
I was not giving a personal view but what I genuinely hear as a public perception.
Bullshit.
Yep.
I don't think I have heard that word used in public since the schoolground in 90s.
I would be utterly flabbergasted to hear anyone use it today.
I don't think he can survive this. Final thrust of the dagger from that most unlikely assassin, Diane Abbott.
MC Donnell and Abbott are a stain on the true Labour Party
Been stealing a living that should be investigated under the trades descriptions act. They have never been Team Labour. Only when Labour was hijacked by London Communists.
That said. They delivered far better questions that Twitter queen
They are the elected representatives of their constituents - whether they are in Labour or not is irrelevant to what they do when in Parliament
Starmer says that he wouldn't have made the appointment if the information was made available to him, but he'd already made the appointment by then, in defiance of the recommendation he received on process from the cabinet secretary.
Let’s hope the Olly Robbins appearance tomorrow is more interesting and enlightening because we’ve learnt nothing new today .
See previous link to and extract from Hansard, Fleur Anderson grilled Robbins on this at a select committee session in November. Robbins discussed Mandelson's conflicts of interest declaration with him. So presumably he had the UKSV decision, he had Mandelson's CoI declaration and he had a discussion with him. Then he overruled the UKSV, give him a pass and, unless he's got evidence otherwise, didn't tell Starmer or any other minister.
I don't think Robbins is going to shed any further light on this ..
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Nasty homophobia from you.
Been a long time. There was one before. Was it "Paul" or some such very simple username? Years ago, though.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Nasty homophobia from you.
I apologise
I was not giving a personal view but what I genuinely hear as a public perception.
Bullshit.
Yep.
I don't think I have heard that word used in public since the schoolground in 90s.
I would be utterly flabbergasted to hear anyone use it today.
I am surprised you heard it in the 90s. Sounds much older, to me.
Let’s hope the Olly Robbins appearance tomorrow is more interesting and enlightening because we’ve learnt nothing new today .
See previous link to and extract from Hansard, Fleur Anderson grilled Robbins on this at a select committee session in November. Robbins discussed Mandelson's conflicts of interest declaration with him. So presumably he had the UKSV decision, he had Mandelson's CoI declaration and he had a discussion with him. Then he overruled the UKSV, give him a pass and, unless he's got evidence otherwise, didn't tell Starmer or any other minister.
I don't think Robbins is going to shed any further light on this ..
I would like someone to ask why he didn't tell Starmer or anyone else.
I don't think he can survive this. Final thrust of the dagger from that most unlikely assassin, Diane Abbott.
MC Donnell and Abbott are a stain on the true Labour Party
Been stealing a living that should be investigated under the trades descriptions act. They have never been Team Labour. Only when Labour was hijacked by London Communists.
That said. They delivered far better questions that Twitter queen
Disagree. If you make Badenoch look good, as Starmer has just done, it's time to pack up your dispatch boxes.
Is anyone (Brixian aside) convinced by the statement and answers this afternoon? It is clear he is not going to resign, and Labour's rules make it (too) hard to remove him. So he limps on until the next crisis - the elections in 2 weeks.
One thing strikes me. This whole hour has been heard largely in silence. You would expect that there would be some noises supporting Keith from the government side. And there's been nothing.
Last time I heard the government back bench this quiet? Barring the "how have we been brought here" despairing questions?
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Nasty homophobia from you.
I apologise
I was not giving a personal view but what I genuinely hear as a public perception.
Bullshit.
Yep.
I don't think I have heard that word used in public since the schoolground in 90s.
I would be utterly flabbergasted to hear anyone use it today.
I am surprised you heard it in the 90s. Sounds much older, to me.
Even then, it was only by kids who were deliberately crossing the line and not regarded as polite, but now it is so far over the line even kids don't go near it.
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Our very own pound shop Malcolm Tucker.
Please do not insult Pound Shop like that. The local one, before it closed, was very useful.
also, please do not insult fictional spin doctors like that.
I don't think he can survive this. Final thrust of the dagger from that most unlikely assassin, Diane Abbott.
MC Donnell and Abbott are a stain on the true Labour Party
Been stealing a living that should be investigated under the trades descriptions act. They have never been Team Labour. Only when Labour was hijacked by London Communists.
That said. They delivered far better questions that Twitter queen
More homophobia?
How so, it’s Badenoch he’s referring to I believe.
Do we reckon Keir still wants to be PM, or do we think he's over it? Given how hard it is to remove him, maybe it's more likely he'll just say "fuck it" and quit later this year.
Is anyone (Brixian aside) convinced by the statement and answers this afternoon? It is clear he is not going to resign, and Labour's rules make it (too) hard to remove him. So he limps on until the next crisis - the elections in 2 weeks.
This morning on R4 Today, minister Doug Alexander was unable to defend the PM and deal with three main issues. Earlier today I listed them as these:
1) Unable to defend PeterM being appointed and in place before vetting, in the circumstances where it was known that PeterM was known to have significant links and form
2) Entirely unable to account for how people, especially Robbins, are sacked for an alleged error of judgment and at the same time the PM is agreed by Alexander and the PM himself to have made a major error in appointing PeterM, against much senior advice, but unlike others he is staying on and blaming everyone else.
3) Unable to deal with the 'Casablanca' point. Everyone, including the PM, knows the PM was not shocked, angry or surprised at finding out that PeterM had security vetting problems. He was angry that it came out inconveniently due to parliament doing its job for the public.
I don't think that position has altered with the PM's statement this afternoon.
He will survive, wounded and unbelieved, until after 7th May, after that, no idea. Not great.
Let’s hope the Olly Robbins appearance tomorrow is more interesting and enlightening because we’ve learnt nothing new today .
See previous link to and extract from Hansard, Fleur Anderson grilled Robbins on this at a select committee session in November. Robbins discussed Mandelson's conflicts of interest declaration with him. So presumably he had the UKSV decision, he had Mandelson's CoI declaration and he had a discussion with him. Then he overruled the UKSV, give him a pass and, unless he's got evidence otherwise, didn't tell Starmer or any other minister.
I don't think Robbins is going to shed any further light on this ..
I would like someone to ask why he didn't tell Starmer or anyone else.
He'll be asked tomorrow Edit Starmer just said Rollins told him he wasn't allowed to!
Is anyone (Brixian aside) convinced by the statement and answers this afternoon? It is clear he is not going to resign, and Labour's rules make it (too) hard to remove him. So he limps on until the next crisis - the elections in 2 weeks.
Is anyone (Brixian aside) convinced by the statement and answers this afternoon? It is clear he is not going to resign, and Labour's rules make it (too) hard to remove him. So he limps on until the next crisis - the elections in 2 weeks.
No. His position is hopeless, which does not mean he won't stay on deeply wounded and his credibility gone. This is sad, as he's probably the best, though not good, option in general. Look at the alternatives.....
One thing strikes me. This whole hour has been heard largely in silence. You would expect that there would be some noises supporting Keith from the government side. And there's been nothing.
Last time I heard the government back bench this quiet? Barring the "how have we been brought here" despairing questions?
Liz Truss on her last day...
I mentioned earlier that the response of the Labour back benches would be key. Apart from the odd sycophant there was incredibly little energy from his party today. He is not loved, admired or supported.
Is anyone (Brixian aside) convinced by the statement and answers this afternoon? It is clear he is not going to resign, and Labour's rules make it (too) hard to remove him. So he limps on until the next crisis - the elections in 2 weeks.
(*That would also be true of Trump saying "fake news".)
The Atlantic on Monday called the suit meritless. “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit,” ..
The curious thing about this is how disinterested people are. No chatter in the office, not even in the top 10 most read articles on the BBC.
I think it’s mainly because the country has entirely given up on Starmer but still, curious. A PM might resign and very few care.
Reminds me of the time Dave (pbuh) announced his resignation and it was the fourth and fifth news item on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news respectively.
It's because 98% of the public couldn't give a shit.
Epstein is a dead paedo Mandelson is an old puff Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Nasty homophobia from you.
I apologise
I was not giving a personal view but what I genuinely hear as a public perception.
Comments
Vetting is not the same as due diligence
Pathetic
Develop a plan for them to acquire the necessary security clearances
(not acquire, but develop a plan by which they will acquire)
and
(separate line item follows)
do due diligence on any potential conflicts of interest or other issues you should be aware of before confirming your choice
(we'll have a scoot round whilst the security clearance is ongoing, and let you know about any issues that would prevent prior confirmation)
(be interesting to know how that informal process went, wouldn't it!)
The formal security clearance can be read as an offline process to the due diligence in this and it does not say what Sam Coates thinks it says.
My conclusion: Starmer is not bang to rights on the basis of this passage.
He had a key Globally important meeting on Thursday.
Parliament didn't sit Friday.
Today is the first day.
Badenoch is being frivolous Vexacious and wholly desperate.
No surprise when she is lazy works 3 days a week and works mainly on Twatter
@DPJHodges
·
3m
Staggeringly, Starmer still refuses to acknowledge he inadvertently mislead the House.
Not plausible, I'm afraid.
So as Rory Stewart put it he's either a liar or the "most incompetent PM we've ever had"
Or both.
Meanwhille SIr Ed Nice points out that Starmer has turned into Boris Johnson...
Zero.
Ed Davey good in recalling how he was elected as different to Boris when he is exactly the same in this respect
Labour MPs however couldn't hit a 20 foot wide, 50 foot high target at point blank range! No Labour leader has ever been voted out of office by Labour MPs or Labour members or even forced to resign at a time not of their choosing apart from possibly Blair in 2007 but only after 13 years as leader and for the crime of not being leftwing enough!
On Boris.
Epstein is a dead paedo
Mandelson is an old puff
Starmer saved loads of jobs and our tariffs are best on planet.
The fact he's now standing up to Trump
The fact Farage is up Trumps ass looking for Badenoch who has entered his colon but lies about it and changes her tune day after after day, means there is no better option.
Most know he will fall on his sword at some point in 2027 or 2028.
His global gravitas should not be discounted and Is keeping Labour polling static.
Instead of fireworks it’s turned into a WI bake sale !
https://x.com/adidasUK/status/2045894479572324852
I'm such circumstances time would have been found.
Its bollocks to suggest the day was full and time not available.
Not the cabinet post I'd pick.
Diane Abbott now asking if SKS has any idea about the history of Peter Mandleson?
Qs 258-260 don't look good for Robbins!!
https://committees.parliament.uk/event/25449/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/#:~:text=In this evidence session, Members,where these processes fell down.
Q252
Sir Oliver Robbins: To answer the other part of your question, he did not hold national
security vetting when he was appointed, but, as is normally the case with
external appointments to my Department and the wider civil service, the
appointment was made subject to obtaining security clearance.
Q254
Sir Chris Wormald: Let me add, because it may be helpful, that when we
are making appointments from outside the civil service, which obviously
happens a lot more regularly than it does for ambassadors, the normal
thing is for the security clearance to happen after appointment but before
the person signs a contract and takes up post.
Q258
Fleur Anderson: For this appointment specifically, Sir Olly, the Cabinet
Secretary said that “a thorough process to understand and consider” Lord
Mandelson’s “private interests” was carried out as part of “the usual
ambassadorial appointments process”. There wasn’t a panel interview so
who carried out that assessment? Having done so, did they decide that
any mitigations were required to prevent any conflicts of interest?
Sir Oliver Robbins: An external appointee to the senior reaches of the
service will always be asked to fill in a conflict of interest form. I am very
happy to share a copy of that standard form with the Committee if it
would help. It is an opportunity for the candidate to set out the issues that
they think might actually raise or potentially raise or be perceived as
raising a conflict of interest. That process was completed in Lord
Mandelson’s case and his appointment was subject to him going through
that process with us. The way in which we then discuss with him any of
those perceived conflicts is obviously a confidential matter between him
and us, but the process was followed rigorously.
Q259
Fleur Anderson: You say “us”. Who was it that carried that out?
Sir Oliver Robbins: That is for his employer, i.e. the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office.
Q260
Fleur Anderson: Was it you? Who did it?
Sir Oliver Robbins: He submitted his form. That was assessed in the
usual way and I did indeed have a conversation with him before he took
up his appointment.
Bollocks
Why didn't he ask?
Kash Patel has filed $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic
https://x.com/MacFarlaneNews/status/2046229683306459163
I'm looking forward to discovery.
That would be a rookie mistake.
Diane Abbot
Efd Davey
John McConnell
Spot on questions
Utter disastrous from Badenoch
Bested and Beasted by the above
She said she had too many questions...
FFS give us one...
The later makes me think of a good friend, who gets ever more elaborately courteous as he gets drunk.
I was not giving a personal view but what I genuinely hear as a public perception.
Nobody who actually watched it, that's for certain.
Been stealing a living that should be investigated under the trades descriptions act. They have never been Team Labour. Only when Labour was hijacked by London Communists.
That said. They delivered far better questions that Twitter queen
SACK HIM
I liked the picture of him at the Siege of Sidney Street - using a brick wall for cover. Unlike the soldiers and policemen trying to hide behind a shop window.
Who next? Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Putin.
That is piss poor from Starmer.
Come on Ange!
I don't think I have heard that word used in public since the schoolground in 90s.
I would be utterly flabbergasted to hear anyone use it today.
I don't think Robbins is going to shed any further light on this ..
It is clear he is not going to resign, and Labour's rules make it (too) hard to remove him.
So he limps on until the next crisis - the elections in 2 weeks.
https://x.com/conservatives/status/2046211727142871204?s=61
Last time I heard the government back bench this quiet? Barring the "how have we been brought here" despairing questions?
Liz Truss on her last day...
also, please do not insult fictional spin doctors like that.
Meanwhile, someone who worked closely with Patel says the whole story is totally made up.
https://x.com/dissidentclint/status/2045310456340840611
1) Unable to defend PeterM being appointed and in place before vetting, in the circumstances where it was known that PeterM was known to have significant links and form
2) Entirely unable to account for how people, especially Robbins, are sacked for an alleged error of judgment and at the same time the PM is agreed by Alexander and the PM himself to have made a major error in appointing PeterM, against much senior advice, but unlike others he is staying on and blaming everyone else.
3) Unable to deal with the 'Casablanca' point. Everyone, including the PM, knows the PM was not shocked, angry or surprised at finding out that PeterM had security vetting problems. He was angry that it came out inconveniently due to parliament doing its job for the public.
I don't think that position has altered with the PM's statement this afternoon.
He will survive, wounded and unbelieved, until after 7th May, after that, no idea. Not great.
Edit Starmer just said Rollins told him he wasn't allowed to!
(*That would also be true of Trump saying "fake news".)
The Atlantic on Monday called the suit meritless.
“We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit,” ..