Pressure is mounting for the UK Prime Minister.
GB News was halted for breaking news (Image: GB News)
GB News was halted for a breaking news update on Tuesday as bombshell evidence was unveiled in the Peter Mandelson scandal. The news channel welcomed on former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis via video link as he discussed the situation.
In a huge blow to the UK Prime Minister, Ellis said that he thinks Sir Olly Robbins gave an “extraordinary” testimony, suggesting that Starmer is “teetering”. He said that Starmer is in “real trouble”, adding: “It was devastating testimony and he is going to be under considerable pressure. And not just from the opposition benches. I think from also some on his own back benches.” He went on: “This was explosive evidence and, as I say, the PM could become a museum piece himself if he’s not very careful now. I think this is teetering on the edge.” It follows former top official at the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins, appearing before the foreign affairs select committee on Tuesday.
He said that No 10 had a “dismissive approach” to Lord Mandelson’s vetting – which Downing Street denies.
He also said that there was an “atmosphere of pressure” and a “very strong expectation” from No 10 that Mandelson should be “in post and in America” as quickly as possible.
Robbins was sacked after Starmer discovered Robbins did not tell him that Mandelson had failed the vetting process to be the US ambassador. Starmer accused Robbins of a cover-up, saying the fact he was not told “beggars belief.”
Ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, Starmer took the fight to Robbins in a Commons statement, accusing senior Foreign Office officials of deliberately concealing the vetting failure from him and from parliament.
“A deliberate decision was taken to withhold that material,” the Prime Minister said. “There was not a lack of asking. This wasn’t an oversight. It was a decision. It was a decision taken not to share that information on repeated occasions.”
Starmer said Robbins had withheld the information not only from ministers but also from cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald and other Downing Street officials. He said he had directly challenged Robbins over his account and “didn’t accept his explanation”, adding: “That’s why I sacked him.”