Barton says he was not consulted about Mandelson appointment – however suggests he ought to have been
Q: Where you ever requested your view about appointing Peter Mandelson?
Barton says he was first informed about this on 15 December 2024.
He was not informed this was being deliberate. He was not informed a call was coming.
Q: Should you’ve got been?
Barton says the pinnacle of the Foreign Office would count on to be informed.
But, given it was a political appointment, he can see why he was not concerned.
He says he’s “a bit conflicted” on whether or not or not he ought to have been consulted.
He says he thinks this might have been determined by a small circle of political advisers.
He goes on:
In the tip, that is an appointment to probably the most senior job in our international service. I used to be head of the diplomatic service. So I feel it’s doable, with out asking me as a civil servant, I feel it’s doable [a civil servant] to be concerned in a dialog, for instance, round what’s what are the necessities, what does the UK want within the interval ahead and that kind of factor – even when that you just’re not then concerned within the absolute resolution making discussions round people who’re politicians as a result of it’s a political appointment.
Key occasions
Barton says, when the Tories had been in workplace, the Foreign Office began the method to discover a substitute for Karen Pierce, the outgoing ambassador. He says a possible candidate was recognized.
But that course of was put on maintain when the election was known as.
Former Foreign Office chief Philip Barton tells MPs leaving workplace 8 months early wasn’t his selection
Philip Barton, the previous everlasting secretary on the Foreign Office, is beginning his evidence to the Commons international affairs committee.
Emily Thornberry, the chair, welcomes him. She says he has given evidence to the committee many instances earlier than. But as soon as he retired he didn’t count on to come again, she suggests.
Barton jokes about how it’s “nice to be back” – earlier than saying he doesn’t need to be accused of misleaing the committee.
Q: Why did you allow workplace eight months early?
Barton says it was not his selection. He says David Lammy, the international secretary, needed a brand new individual in place to drive by transformation.
Top Foreign Office official ‘felt pressure’ for ‘rapid outcome’ on Mandelson vetting
Last night time the international affairs committee printed a long memo from the Foreign Office giving solutions to questions it had for Ian Collard, who was head of safety on the Foreign Office on the time of the Mandelson appointment. Collard was the one that briefed Olly Robbins on the result of the Mandelson vetting interviews and who really helpful that vetting must be authorised, as a result of the dangers highlighted within the vetting interviews might be managed.
Here is Henry Dyer’s story in regards to the doc.
Keir Starmer to face vote on Mandelson vetting scandal as key figures give evidence to MPs
Good morning. The former US president Lyndon Johnson is credited with saying crucial talent in politics is realizing how to rely, which means that finally what issues is having the ability to win a vote. But generally in politics what issues simply as a lot, or much more, is the power to win the argument. Today Keir Starmer shall be examined on each these measures.
Winning the vote must be straightforward. Here is our in a single day preview story by Pippa Crerar on the occasions establishing at the moment’s vote on a motion tabled by Kemi Badenoch, in addition to MPs from 5 different opposition events (the Lib Dems, the SNP, the DUP, Restore Britain, TUV) and a string of independents, referring Starmer to the privileges committee.
Labour MPs are on a 3-line whip to vote in opposition to the movement, and the federal government ought to win simply. “We’ll vote it down,” Jonathan Reynolds, the chief whip, informed Sky News final night time.
Badenoch, who shall be opening the controversy, is hoping to persuade MPs, and the general public, that Starmer lied to the Commons over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, simply as Boris Johnson lied to MPs about Partygate. That shall be fairly a problem; the case for Starmer intentionally deceptive MPs is flimsy, and the comparability to Johnson is vast of the mark. Labour is saying the vote at the moment is only a stunt ahead of subsequent week’s native elections. On the Today programme this morning Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, dismissed this declare, saying: “There aren’t any political games going on here.” He is fortunate MPs can’t get referred to the privileges committee for mendacity to Radio 4.
But the Mandelson affair isn’t actually about whether or not Starmer misled MPs. In the view of the general public, and most MPs, the true drawback is that Starmer appointed Mandelson within the first place. Then, two weeks in the past, Starmer compounded the issue by sacking Olly Robbins as everlasting secretary to the Foreign Office after the Guardian revealed that Robbins authorised Mandelson’s safety vetting clearance though the UK Security Vetting crew who interviewed Mandelson initially really helpful that vetting must be denied. Robbins didn’t know that on the time, and the choice to sack him is now broadly seen as grossly unfair.
This morning, earlier than the Commons debate begins, the Commons international affairs committee will hear from two witnesses who will give evidence who will in all probability reveal much more about how Mandelson got here to be appointed within the first place. They are Philip Barton, the previous everlasting secretary on the Foreign Office, and Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s former chief of employees. McSweeney’s evidence must be probably the most fascinating, as a result of he was instrumental in serving to Starmer develop into Labour chief, after which prime minister, and he has by no means questioned at size in public on this type of approach earlier than. While Starmer is sort of sure to win the Commons vote, the committee evidence might have a extra important impression on how he’s considered by his MPs.
Here is the agenda for the day.
9am: Philip Barton, the previous everlasting secretary on the Foreign Office, gives evidence to the Commons international affairs committee.
Morning: Keir Starmer chairs cupboard.
11am: Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s former chief of employees, gives evidence to the international affairs committee.
Noon: Downing Street holds a foyer briefing.
After 12.40pm: Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative chief, opens the controversy on referring Keir Starmer to the privileges committee. MPs will vote at 7pm.
Afternoon: Starmer chairs a gathering of the federal government’s Middle East response committee
After 3pm: Peers vote on Commons amendments to the childrens’ wellbeing and colleges invoice.
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