Sir Keir Starmer has caved to Labour rebels over an amendment tabled to a “humble address” demanding the release of No10 correspondence relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s Ambassador to the US.
The Prime Minister will now be forced to give files relating to the appointment to Parliament’s intelligence committee following a rebellion by Labour MPs.
Following major interventions from senior Labour MPs Angela Rayner and Dame Meg Hillier, the Government has now backed down and will release all documents.
The manuscript amendment has been waved through by MPs without the need for a division.
It now means all decisions related to the Peter Mandelson files be made by the intelligence and security committee, rather than the Cabinet Office.
During a fiery Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir revealed the Government intended not to release files if they risked Britain’s national security and international relations.
However, a growing number of Labour MPs voiced frustrations with No10’s response, sparking fears of a major revolt against Sir Keir.
Ms Rayner suggested the Government should give the Intelligence Security Committee oversight over the documents released.
She said: “Given the public disgust and the sickening behaviour of Peter Mandelson and the importance of transparency, in 2022 I proposed a humble address seeking information about PPE, which the party resisted.
“Should we not have the ISC not have the same role in keeping public confidence in the process?”
