"Starmer's Silence on Mandelson Scandal Raises Eyebrows: Is He Hiding the Truth or Out of Touch with His Government?"

Farce & furious

SIR Keir Starmer yesterday declared himself “absolutely furious” that he was not told Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting.

It was, the Prime Minister added, “staggering” that Foreign Office officials did not pass on his unsuitability to be US ambassador.

Starmer declared himself ‘absolutely furious’ that he was not told Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting Credit: AFP

Really? Wasn’t it , an ex-DPP, no less, to show some basic curiosity about the vetting process?

After all, — who, as well as being , was twice sacked from Cabinet — had a track record deserving of the closest scrutiny.

All Starmer cares about is being able to show he did not technically mislead the when he claimed Mandelson was properly vetted.

But the questions continue to mount.

Did somebody in No10 tell the Foreign Office that Starmer wanted Mandelson in the job, no matter what?

If so, weren’t officials simply following the instruction of Downing Street to sign off his appointment, regardless of what the checks found?

Sacking the Foreign Office’s top mandarin, , looks like the latest act of scapegoating by a PM who has already thrown numerous senior officials and political aides under the bus to save himself.

For all the No10 bluster, it’s really very simple.

was either so desperate to appoint Mandelson for his mastery of the dark arts that he deliberately hid from the truth. In which case his political judgment is appalling.

Or he has zero grip on the civil service and his own Government.

Voters will take a dim view either way.

Dissent in ranks

THE threats to Britain are mounting, while the world has been turned upside down by another war in the Middle East.

Yet has become a clown show on defence spending.

Frustration over senseless penny- pinching has moved even Minister Al Carns — a Military Cross-winning former Marine and Afghanistan veteran — to break ranks.

Chancellor is only offering a paltry £10billion extra over four years to plug a £28billion shortfall.

Carns knows what it takes to win a war — and realises Britain is still nowhere near ready to fight one.

Do your duty

THE Chancellor says she wants to do all she can to shield families from the costs of the Iran War.

are shredding household incomes.

If Rachel Reeves is serious about helping, she can start by ruling out a rise in fuel duty — now.