MPs rejected a bid by the Conservatives to refer the Prime Minister to the Commons Privileges Committee on Tuesday by 335 to 223.
Sir Keir Starmer will not face a parliamentary investigation into claims he misled Parliament over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.
MPs rejected a bid by the Conservatives to refer the Prime Minister to the Commons Privileges Committee on Tuesday by 335 to 223 after Labour MPs were ordered to oppose the move.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had accused the Prime Minister of misleading the Commons by claiming “full due process” had been followed and “no pressure existed” in Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
Some Labour figures have branded Mrs Badenoch’s call for an investigation a “political stunt”.
But a handful of backbenchers broke ranks on Tuesday to criticise the Government for whipping its MPs to oppose the motion, and suggested the Prime Minister should refer himself to the Privileges Committee to “clear his name”.
Sir Keir has consistently denied misleading the House, leaning on the conclusion of former Cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald that “appropriate processes” were followed.
But earlier on Tuesday, former senior Foreign Office mandarin Sir Philip Barton declined to endorse Sir Keir’s assessment, saying it was for MPs to form their own view.
Sir Philip told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee it was unusual for the peer’s appointment to be announced before security vetting had been completed and suggested there was pressure to “get on with” approving Lord Mandelson’s developed vetting (DV).
The committee also heard from Sir Keir’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who insisted he did not “ask officials to ignore procedures, request that steps should be skipped, or communicate explicitly or implicitly that checks should be cleared at all costs” during the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
