British MPs have voted against launching an investigation into claims Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled Parliament about the process behind Peter Mandelson’s appointment as U.S. ambassador. But the biggest challenge to his premiership is just around the corner.
Keir Starmer knew Mandelson, a senior Labour figure, had remained in contact with Jeffrey Epstein following the latter’s conviction for child sex offences when the appointment was made, and had admitted to “inadvertently” misleading Parliament when he said security checks had been cleared, when they had not.
Labour MPs were ordered to vote with the PM on Tuesday evening, but 14 did not, and another abstained.
Reform MP Suella Braverman voted “against the cover-up” and accepts that “we lost … tonight,”
But the British people will have their say [at local elections] on May 7th.
This will be the biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election, and polling predicts that Reform will make “significant gains.” A major upset for Labour is likely, and could prompt the party’s MPs to question Starmer’s ability to continue governing.
Some commentators are even saying that in the North East, a traditional Labour stronghold, “an extinction-level event is brewing” for the establishment parties.
And Reform leader Nigel Farage insists that “a crushing defeat by Reform in Labour’s heartlands next week will spell the end for Keir Starmer.”
A crushing defeat by Reform in Labour's heartlands next week will spell the end for Keir Starmer. pic.twitter.com/POH0K8dHse
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
