Morgan McSweeney has denied allegations that he bullied civil servants into appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the United States. The denial comes ahead of an evidence hearing with MPs scheduled for next week.
Background of the Controversy
McSweeney, who served as Keir Starmer's chief of staff, resigned in February over his involvement in Mandelson's appointment. However, his resignation did not quell the ongoing controversy surrounding the peer's selection. Speaking at a security forum in Kyiv on Thursday, McSweeney stated that he did not recognize the "character" portrayed in media reports.
Upcoming Parliamentary Hearing
During his planned appearance before the foreign affairs committee on Tuesday, McSweeney is expected to face questions regarding reports that he told Philip Barton, the former permanent undersecretary at the Foreign Office, to "just fucking approve" Mandelson's appointment. McSweeney remarked, "I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes. I don't recognize that character."
McSweeney's Defense
The political strategist, widely regarded as a Mandelson protege, reiterated that he resigned because he "took responsibility" for recommending Mandelson for the ambassadorial role. In his exit statement, McSweeney had previously said he took "full responsibility" for advising Starmer, which led to the "wrong" appointment decision, and called for an overhaul of vetting procedures.
Government Under Scrutiny
Starmer and his government have faced a challenging week after Olly Robbins, former Foreign Office chief, told MPs on the foreign affairs committee that "constant pressure" was applied from Number 10 regarding the appointment. Robbins was sacked by Starmer last week after the Guardian disclosed he had overturned a recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) to deny clearance for Mandelson.
Contradictory Statements
At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Starmer asserted that no pressure was placed on the Foreign Office to approve Mandelson's vetting. However, Barton is expected to contradict this claim when he gives evidence to the committee next Tuesday. During a visit to Newcastle upon Tyne on Thursday, Starmer dismissed questions about whether he had considered resigning, stating that his political opponents were "completely wrong" in their allegations.
Starmer added, "They are now putting any allegation they can and I will tell you for why – they are opposed politically to what this government is trying to achieve."
