A minister struggled to explain why the government won’t just remove the disgraced Labour grandee from Parliament.
Sophie Ridge quizzes Karin Smyth on Starmer’s position with Mandleson
A Labour minister was left stuttering this morning as she struggled to explain why the government won’t introduce a bill to remove Peter Mandelson from the House of Lords. The Government is insisting that such a move would be the wrong strategy, and instead there needs to be wholesale reform of the Lords to make it easier to remove any present and future peers over serious wrongdoing.
It comes as Mandelson faces allegations of leaking emails while he was in Gordon Brown’s cabinet to Jeffrey Epstein.
However many MPs from across political parties are arguing the government should do both, but prioritise removing Lord Mandelson as a more immediate priority. The government could introduce a simple Bill and pass it through Parliament in a day, should it wish. This morning, minister Karin Smyth struggled to justify the government’s position.
Peter Mandelson has been condemned by all parties (Image: Getty)
Asked on Sky News why the Prime Minister is not acting immediately to remove Lord Mandelson, Ms Smyth argued: “We’re all learning the rules, Peter Mandelson is not the first lord to be in disrepute.
“This issue is about bringing forward new legislation. We don’t have a majority in the House of Lords, so it has to be done in cooperation with all parties.
“That’s why we’ve asked all parties to come together and look at this, and make sure that any legislation that comes forward is fit for purpose and is not just about one individual.”
Host Sophy Ridge pointed out: “I do understand the difficulties with legislation, but we were told that Prince Andrew couldn’t be stripped of his title – ‘he was born a prince, there’s nothing you can do about It’.
“But King Charles found a way of doing it to his own brother, so I guess people looking at this will think why can’t Keir Starmer find a way of getting rid of the title of Lord Mandelson?”
Ms Smyth couldn’t explain why the government won’t take action right away (Image: Sky News)
Ms Smyth was left stuttering as she was pressed over what immediate action the Government is taking, attempting to claim that approaching other parties about a consultation on House of Lords rule changes is sufficient.
Ms Ridge pushed back: “But what is happening today? What’s happening now?… I mean approaching all parties to come together?”
Ms Smyth said she hopes that the level of public interest will mean all parties will work together to change Lords rules.
However the Express hears furious MPs may force the government to hold a vote in the coming days, as they argue the Mandelson scandal should be dealt with instantly, and then Lords rules can be reformed.
