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Starmer and Badenoch clash over Olly Robbins’ Mandelson evidence – UK politics live | Politics
Starmer claims Robbins’s evidence confirmed he personally was not under any pressure to approve Mandelson’s vetting
Badenoch says Starmer is relying on advice he got after Mandelson was sacked, not before.
She says the appointment was a done deal. Robbins said the PM’s team showed a dismissive approach to vetting. This was not proper process. She asks why due process was not followed.
Starmer says Robbins was clear that he was not under pressure personally in terms of his judgment.
He says Robbins also said that the decisions he took were independent of any pressure.
And Robbins said no one told him that vetting could be ignored.
Starmer claims Robbins said “no pressure” whatsoever was placed on him in this case.
Key events
Sarah Pochin (Reform UK) says Pakistani grooming gangs are still attacking girls. She says Starmer should be focusing on this instead of giving jobs to the friends of paedophiles.
Starmer says he spent many years prosecuting paedophiles, and that he does not need lectures from Pochin on this.
Rachael Maskell (Lab) asks about a York hospital that was closed in 2015. She says the site was given to the city in the 18th century, but that it is now being sold for luxury housing. She says it should be used for the benefit of the city.
Starmer says ministers will work with the council on a solution that will benefit the city.
Tessa Munt (Lib Dem) asks about the chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994. Relatives of those killed were told they would get an explanation. The MoD is failing to give them that, she says. She says they are not asking for an inquiry – just an explanation as to why their loved ones were placed on a helicotper that was not fit to fly.
Starmer says he will ensure that the MoD look at this again, and that a proper meeting with families take place.
Carla Lockhart (DUP) asks about a boy in her constituency who died from MLD. She says this is a terrible condition. But it can be treated, and it can be picked up by screening. She says MLD has been excluded from the pin-prick screening for children. She asks for this to change.
Starmer says he will ensure this matter gets looked at again.
Lincoln Jopp (Con) says last week a man was approach in his constituency after approaching children from a primary school. He was subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act. He says the man was living in Home Office accommodation near the school. Who put him there?
Starmer says this is a live case. But he says councils are given the chance to object to decisions about where people in Home Office accommodation go.
Richard Foord (Lib Dem) says Lord Carrington resigned as foreign secretary over the Falkland Islands, even though he was not personally to blame. He accepted ministerial responsibility. Does Starmer also believe in that?
Starmer repeats the point about how he should have been told about the UKSV Mandelson recommendation.
Ben Obese-Jecty (Con) asks when Jonathan Powell was appointed envoy for the Chagos Islands, and what security clearance he got.
Starmer does not answer the question, but says Powell is doing an excellent job and is respected around the world.
Ellie Chowns (Green) accuses Starmer of throwing Olly Robbins under a bus to save his skin. She says he should resign.
Starmer says he should have been told the UK Security Vetting said Mandelson’s clearance should be denied.
Starmer calls Lib Dem claim about Treasury getting windfall from higher oil prices ‘politically misleading and economically illiterate’
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says, when he was asked on Monday if he had considered other political diplomatic appointments, he did not answer. He says the last 24 hours have jogged his memory. He asks if Starmer knew personally about the proposed appointment of Matthew Doyle.
Starmer says nothing came of that.
Davey asks if the government will cut rail and bus fares, and slash petrol prices, to help people with higher energy prices, using the windfall the Treasury has had from higher fuel prices. (Because prices are up, VAT revenue is up too.)
Starmer says the idea that the Treasury is getting a windfall from the Iran war is “politically misleading and economically illiterate”.
Badenoch says due process was not followed. She says Starmer misled MPs when he claimed it had been. She says he should go.
Starmer says he should have been told that the vetting process said Mandleson’s clearance should be denied. He goes on:
[Badenoch] claimed on Friday that Mandelson could not have been cleared against security advice. She was wrong about that.
She said that ministers must have been told. She was wrong about that.
She claimed there was deliberate dishonesty. She was wrong about that.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. She rushed to judgment, as she always did.
And he compares that to Badenoch’s stance on the Iran war.
The migrant was found unresponsive on a boat in the English Channel on Saturday.
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World Cup 2026: Curaçao claim historic point; Iran unhappy at lack of support from teams – live | World Cup 2026
Key events
Elsewhere in Group E Germany sealed progression from a World Cup group stage for the first time since they won the damn thing in 2014, coming from behind after Côte d’Ivoire had a half-time lead.
“We showed great character today,” said Deniz Undav, channelling his inner Brendan Rodgers. The Stuttgart striker came off the bench to score twice and netted a late winner, making it nine goals in 11 international caps.
Undav’s role is a curious one under Julian Nagelsmann. The coach has previously criticised the striker for his performances in a Germany shirt, even if he scored goals. Undav has also not been particularly happy to just be an impact sub.
“I could have him in the starting lineup,” Nagelsmann said yesterday. “I think that every player would love to be in the starting lineup, but I think he’s very happy as it is right now.”
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“I think I need a statue in Curaçao now,” said Eloy Room after keeping Ecuador at bay and earning his country’s first World Cup point – his clean sheet particularly significant after that 7-1 hammering by Germany in the first game. The Miami FC goalkeeper was just one off Tim Howard’s record of 16 saves (for USA v Belgium in 2014) in a World Cup match.
“A little bit annoyed that I don’t have the record from Tim Howard, but I think he was sweating in front of the TV because I was close,” Room said.
It’s going to be an insane memory. You don’t think about it when you do it but of course it’s going to be something you look back to. For me as a goalkeeper, this is almost a perfect game. It’s unbelievable. And I cannot do it alone. I did it with the team and my defenders and the midfielders, strikers. We did it as a team.
The draw means Curaçao can still (and probably will) progress from Group E if they beat Côte d’Ivoire in their final fixture.
Results and reports: Here’s what happened on Saturday at the World Cup …
Sweden followed up their 5-1 opening win over Tunisia with a thumping by the same scoreline by the Netherlands, with Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey on the scoresheet twice in Houston. Nick Ames was there:
Deniz Undav kept up his remarkable scoring record for Germany with both off the bench, including a late winner, against an impressive Côte d’Ivoire in Toronto. Leander Schaerlackens was there:
Curaçao earned their first point at a World Cup by holding Ecuador, with a heroic Eloy Room making a a ridiculous 15 saves in Kansas City. Ed Aarons was there:
And Herve Renard’s first game in charge of Tunisia was just as poor as Sabri Lamouchi’s final match, with Japan racking up the goals in Monterrey. Jonathan Wilson was there:
Iran’s Ghalenoei bemoans lack of support from other 47 managers
Ben Fisher
Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, expressed his disappointment at the lack of support from the other 47 managers at the World Cup amid further chaos on the eve of their crunch match against Belgium.
Iran arrived in Los Angeles from their base in Tijuana, Mexico, soon after midday on Saturday, less than 24 hours before their second Group G game. Iran had requested to arrive in LA two days before the match but were not permitted to do so and have voiced their frustrations to Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, about feeling the “most oppressed” team at the tournament. Belgium, meanwhile, arrived on Friday to prepare for the match.
“I haven’t heard anything from other coaches and I’m sure they’re busy with preparing their own teams and we never expect them to show any reaction,” Ghalenoei said. “But if I had seen another team being treated the way we’ve been treated, I would have [done it].
“I have not seen any reactions from anyone but it seems like the honourable coach of Belgium [Rudi Garcia] has said we are here for football, not politics, and I’m saying exactly the same thing. Our grievances are to do with the way [Fifa] have behaved towards us.”
Ghalenoei detailed how Iran waited in limbo on Friday evening after being given encouragement by Fifa that Iran may be able to travel earlier to LA than initially permitted. Ghalenoei said the team were ready to leave their base in Tijuana but the evening passed without Fifa giving them the green light.
“They [Fifa] phoned me and said: ‘Are you ready if we get you a flight at 6pm?’ I welcomed that but we sat and waited and waited,” Ghalenoei said. “We waited until 7pm, nothing happened. ‘OK, sorry, we weren’t able to do that.’ That’s going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach … I know Fifa is trying its best, I thank them for that but it doesn’t mean they have succeeded.”
Ghalenoei confirmed they have been granted permission to fly to Seattle two days before their final Group G match against Egypt on Friday, but questioned why they have been prevented from doing so for their other matches in the US. “Why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?” the 62-year-old said. “They’ve allowed us to make our own decisions with regards to planning the travel but unfortunately for the first two games others made these decisions for us.”
Preamble
Tunisia are out, after a thumping defeat against Japan in Group F. Curaçao are still in there fighting, after a heroic 0-0 draw against Ecuador in Group E … Germany and the Netherlands, meanwhile, appear to be moving ominously through the gears. Let’s talk about the World Cup.
Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the former Cabinet Secretary said leadership transitions are “enormously disruptive”.
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