Kemi Badenoch has accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of repeatedly misleading Parliament over national security issues connected to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to Washington, alleging that security concerns were raised but Downing Street pressured officials to proceed regardless.
National security concerns and alleged cover-up
The Conservative leader claimed that Mandelson failed security checks before his appointment, with UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommending in January 2025 that he be denied “developed vetting clearance” over reputational risks. The security concerns related to Mandelson’s past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, troubling business ties to Russia and China, and previous resignations from government due to scandals. Despite this recommendation, Foreign Office officials overruled UKSV and the appointment went ahead.
Sir Keir has insisted he was not informed of the UKSV recommendation until much later, describing himself as “staggeringly” and “unforgivably” kept in the dark, and has admitted that appointing Mandelson was a “mistake”. However, Mrs Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of misleading Parliament by stating that “due process” was followed and that he exerted “no pressure whatsoever” on officials. Sir Olly Robbins, the former top Foreign Office civil servant sacked over the scandal, testified that there was “constant pressure” from Downing Street to bypass vetting protocols and that the Government had a “dismissive attitude” towards security vetting.
“When it all blew up, sacked everybody else that he possibly could to try and cover for himself,” Mrs Badenoch told GB News. She alleged that requested documents remain unreleased after two months, with even members of the Intelligence and Security Committee reportedly unable to access materials they require. Mandelson was eventually dismissed as ambassador in September 2025 after further concerns emerged about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, including emails showing supportive messages and the potential passing of market-sensitive information. He was arrested in February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, though he denies wrongdoing and has not been charged.
The Tory leader described her weekly attempts to question the Prime Minister as consistently unproductive. “He says things that are not true, he refuses to answer, he’s evasive,” she stated.
Call for parliamentary investigation
Mrs Badenoch is pushing for the Privileges Committee to examine whether Sir Keir deceived Parliament, arguing she is applying the same standards the Prime Minister once demanded of his predecessors. “This is a much more significant issue because it is of national security than the things which he was accusing previous prime ministers of misleading parliament on,” she said. The House of Commons is set to vote on a possible inquiry, following a tactic used against Boris Johnson over Partygate.
The Conservative leader questioned why Labour MPs are being instructed to vote against any investigation into the matter. “What are they so scared of? What is it that Labour MPs are so terrified of, that they are now being whipped into voting for people not to look into this issue at all?” she asked. Should Sir Keir believe himself innocent, Mrs Badenoch argued, the committee’s findings would vindicate him.
Mrs Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of hypocrisy, noting his willingness to see others face consequences while resisting scrutiny himself. “Keir Starmer is very happy for other people to face justice. He’s very happy for other people to lose their jobs,” she said. She added that he supports imprisoning people for minor offences yet refuses accountability when questions turn to his own conduct. “That is not fair. It is my job to hold him to account and I’m going to do that job,” she declared.
Defence spending row
Mrs Badenoch also criticised the Prime Minister for failing to publish his defence investment plan, suggesting he lacks genuine commitment to military matters. “He’s not that interested in defence, despite all of the grandstanding that he’s doing on the international stage,” she said. The defence investment plan, initially expected in autumn 2025, has been repeatedly postponed and is now anticipated in late May or June. Sir Keir has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with an ambition to lift core defence spending to 3.5% of economic output by 2035 and a target of 3% in the next parliament.
The Conservative leader claimed the Government is redirecting funds away from the armed forces to cover welfare costs, specifically citing the decision to lift the two-child benefit cap. “That’s £3.5billion that could be used to fund more troops,” Mrs Badenoch concluded. Treasury ministers have suggested the choice between defence and welfare is “not a zero-sum game”, but analysis shows a significant increase in welfare spending is forecast, with the annual rise potentially funding substantial defence capabilities.
