Peter Mandelson should be banned from returning to the House of Lords, as he would “damage” the upper chamber’s reputation, Harriet Harman has warned.
It follows Lord Mandelson being sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the US, over revelations about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The prime minister fired the Labour peer last week after “new information” came to light, which, he said, meant Mandelson’s relationship with the Epstein was “materially different” to what was known when he was appointed.
But Sir Keir has faced criticism for his handling of the scandal, with Lord Mandelson’s sacking coming less than 24 hours after he defended him in the Commons.
Now, Baroness Harman – also a Labour peer – has warned Lord Mandelson should not be allowed to sit in the Lords when he returns to the UK, despite him being a peer since 2008.
He is currently on a leave of absence from the chamber, but can apply to be readmitted in three months.
Speaking to a special episode of the Electoral Dysfunction x Trump100 podcast, the former deputy Labour leader said: “I think there should be a process, but actually, I don’t think he enhances the reputation of the House of Lords.
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“I think he would damage it. I think he’s got a talent of reinventing himself and reappearing after scandals. But I think this time, that’s got to be it.”
Lord Mandelson was fired from cabinet twice in the 2000s, but managed to bounce back both times. It means his sacking by Sir Keir is the third time he has been dismissed amid a scandal.
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Baroness Harman also told Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby, and US correspondent Mark Stone, that she is surprised Lord Mandelson made it into the Lords in the first place.
She said on the podcast: “It’s quite paradoxical, looking at the dates, that he managed to get past the House of Lords vetting in 2008, because that’s when [then prime minister] Gordon Brown nominated him from the Lords.
“By that time, Jeffrey Epstein had already been convicted and Peter Mandelson was already a long-standing friend of his. So it really raises questions about the first vetting of the House of Lords in 2008.”
Sky News understands the security services raised concerns about his appointment by Sir Keir, but Number 10 appointed him regardless.
Downing Street has insisted the vetting process is carried out by departments and is not shared.
‘I don’t know him’
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Rigby asked Donald Trump about his relationship with Lord Mandelson during his state visit to the UK on Thursday.
He responded: “I don’t know him, actually.”
This is despite photos of the pair together in the Oval Office of the White House.
Sir Keir picked up, saying that the situation is “very straightforward” and that he “made a decision about it, and that’s very clear”.
Lord Mandelson has been formally stripped of another title this week – Hull City Council formally revoked his role as high steward of the city in an emergency motion passed on Thursday. He had held the title for 12 years.
