MPs to vote on whether to hold inquiry into Starmer over Mandelson

Commons speaker grants application for vote on investigation into whether prime minister misled MPs Keir Starmer will face a vote on whether to launch a standards investigation into his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, prompting senior party figures to call for restraint from Labour MPs. The speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has granted a debate on Tuesday after which MPs could vote to refer the prime minister to the privileges committee over claims he misled parliament over his decision. The vote would be the latest test of Starmer’s authority, which has been damaged by the Guardian’s revelation Mandelson was installed as ambassador despite the advice of vetting officials that he be denied security clearance. Government whips are considering whether to instruct Labour MPs to oppose any attempt to refer the prime minister to the committee – with senior figures accusing the Conservatives of political point scoring. The former prime minister Gordon Brown said: “At challenging times both for our country and the world, the Labour party has always sought to put the needs of the country first. With conflicts raging around the world with profound consequences for our