The PM’s ex chief of staff is set to face questions about his role in the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
Keir Starmer is set to face a difficult week (Image: GB News)
Keir Starmer is set to begin a difficult week as his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney will give evidence to MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee next week about his role in the security vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson.
The prime minister and his government have faced a tough week after former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins said that “constant pressure and constant chasing” was applied from Downing Street over Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US.
Political commentator Duncan Barkes discussed the topic on GB News and said that people in the political world will be “watching with popcorn on laps”. McSweeney left the cabinet in February, and in his resignation statement, he said he took “full responsibility” for advising the PM to appoint Mandelson.
Presenter Stephen Dixon asked: “This is going to be a worse week, isn’t it?” Without hesitation, Duncan answered: “It is, potentially. Because of this appearance of Morgan McSweeney, his former Chief of Staff at Downing Street, he will be in front of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
“This was the committee that put Sir Olly Robbins through his paces last week. It’s interesting that the person who heads it up is Emily Thornberry.”
The journalist said he suspected Thorberry has “a bit of an axe to grind” with the prime minister because she didn’t get the cabinet job when Labour got into power in July, 2024.
He added: “Also she was never a fan of Mandelson. So I think these two things are quite relevant. Morgan McSweeney will go in front of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday. And of course, it’s something which, you know, those of us in our political world will watch with popcorn on our laps.”
Political commentator Duncan Barkes suspected Morgan McSweeney to be loyal to Starmer (Image: GB News)
The reason why it could be Starmer’s ‘worst week’, as the guest pointed out: “Quite simply because you will never know what he’s going to say.
“There will be people who’ll be going and I suspect he will be relatively loyal to Starmer. But all it takes is a slight slip up or a misuse of words and people will pounce on it. So yeah, the forthcoming week for our prime minister is going to be very difficult.”