PM denies misleading MPs over Mandelson appointment

Sir Keir Starmer said due process had been followed in appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US (Carl Court/PA) - (PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer has denied misleading MPs by telling them due process was followed in the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.

Files released on March 11 showed Sir Keir’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, had described the peer’s appointment as “weirdly rushed” and Lord Mandelson had been named as the new ambassador before his vetting had been completed.