Keir Starmer is enduring perhaps his most uncomfortable afternoon in the Commons since being elected Prime Minister. He promised in his opening remarks that he would set out the full timeline of Peter Mandelson’s appointment, which ended in Olly Robbins’ dismissal last Thursday. Carefully worded and legally precise, his statement contained another revelation: Chris Wormald, the ex-cabinet secretary, was not told Mandelson had failed the UK Security Vetting interview (UKSV), despite leading an official review.

Starmer’s tone was one of scorned hurt and anger. He remarked repeatedly how various facts of the case were ‘staggering’. ‘I do not accept’, he said, ‘that I could not have been told about UKSV’s denial of security vetting before Peter Mandelson took up his post.’ ‘The fact that I was not told even when I ordered a review of the UKSV process is frankly staggering’, he added. But while his indignation may well be genuine, his refusal to accept any of the blame failed to convince many members across the House.........

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