Anna Mikhailova has launched a sharp critique of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision-making over the Peter Mandelson appointment, describing it as evidence of a leader “disconnected” from political reality.
Speaking to GB News, the Times Radio Political Editor highlighted serious concerns about how the vetting process was conducted, pointing out that Sir chose to leave his section of the vetting documentation “entirely empty”.
The Prime Minister’s ethics advisor has turned down a request from the Conservatives for an inquiry into the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart’s calls for an inquiry into the appointment were rejected by Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards Sir Laurie Magnus.
Sir Laurie told Mr Burghart: “It is not within my remit to investigate the actions or decisions taken by particular departments, or by the Government more broadly”.
Ms Mikhailova highlighted how the standard Government vetting process involves multiple layers of officials contributing their assessments to a designated section of the documentation.
“The Prime Minister normally even scribbles something, maybe two words or something, and yes, for Keir Starmer, it was left blank,” she explained.
She told GB News: “It’s being seen as another example of how detached Keir Starmer is as a politician.”
Anna Mikhailova has criticised Keir Starmer for his ‘disconnect from political reality
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GB NEWS / GETTY
While delegation to his chief of staff remains a defensible approach, Ms Mikhailova argued the unique circumstances surrounding Mr Mandelson made this case fundamentally different.
“Everyone knew his nickname was ‘the Prince of Darkness’, everyone knew he had already had two scandals in which he had to leave former Governments,” she noted.
The Prime Minister had also received explicit warnings about the potential damage this appointment could cause.
“You’ve had actual advice saying that there’s reputational risk to this appointment, surely you would have wanted to lock on a bit more to the decision,” she added.
Sir Keir Starmer has issued an apology over the scandal | GETTY
Ms Mikhailova criticised the Prime Minister’s decision-making, characterising Sir Keir as “this sort of non-political politician, a technocrat” whose detached style in Downing Street is now creating serious difficulties.
“But it’s blowing up in his face, that’s the problem,” she said.
The political editor also questioned the elevation of Matthew Doyle to the House of Lords, noting it remained unclear what he had done to merit a lifetime seat in the unelected chamber.
She explained: “The question then is about why he put Matthew Doyle into the House of Lords. What I find extraordinary when I’ve looked into this is it’s not clear why he was put in the Lords at all.
Ms Mikhailova told GB News that Keir Starmer is a ‘non-political politician’
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GB NEWS
“Even without the scandal, even his maiden speech, there was almost reference to the fact that he hadn’t really done much of the kind of things you’d expect people to have done to be able to merit a place in the unelected chamber for life.”
On Thursday, Sir Keir took responsibility for the “mistake” of appointing the peer, but Downing Street denied suggestions of a “cover-up” and said that no notes by the Prime Minister were redacted.
“There are a range of different ways in which the Prime Minister’s senior team responds to advice,” his official spokesman said.
Lord Mandelson has not responded to previous requests for comment, but we understand that prior to his arrest, his position was he had not acted criminally and did not act for personal gain.