Downing Street insists Starmer not considering resignation

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is not considering stepping down amid a new political scandal surrounding the appointment of former US ambassador Peter Mandelson, BBC reports.

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, said Starmer has no plans to resign and has not discussed such a possibility.

The renewed political pressure follows reports that Mandelson failed security vetting prior to his appointment, but that the Foreign Office did not pass this information on to the government. A deputy minister has since resigned in connection with the controversy.

The scandal has triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties and fresh calls for the prime minister’s resignation. However, allies of Starmer insist he was not aware of the vetting outcome and did not mislead Parliament.

They also say the government only became aware of the issue after a renewed request for security service recommendations brought the matter to light.

By Vafa Guliyeva