The Huffington Post
Keir Starmer and Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence in February last year. Cabinet ministers are distancing themselves from Keir Starmer as the Peter Mandelson scandal threatens to engulf his premiership. Pat McFadden , usually seen as a Starmer loyalist, became the latest senior Labour frontbencher to question the prime minister’s judgment over the controversy. Appearing on Times Radio, the work and pensions secretary repeatedly refused to that Olly Robbins was treated “fairly” when he was sacked by Starmer as the top civil servant in the Foreign Office last week. Robbins paid with his job for giving Mandelson security clearance to become the UK’s ambassador to Washington without informing the PM. In a blockbuster appearance before a Commons committee on Tuesday, Robbins said there had been “constant pressure” from No.10 for Mandelson’s appointment to go through. Asked by Times Radio’s Kate McCann if the highly-respected mandarin had been treated fairly, McFadden said: “I do know Olly Robbins. And as I said, I think very highly of him. “I think if the prime minister has made the judgment that he’s not got confidence in the head of the Foreign Office, then it’s difficult to continue. That is not to say that Olly Robbins is not an extremely distinguished civil servant. “I think what this really came down to was a disagreement on judgment. Olly Robbins made the judgment that he didn’t have to share this information with the prime minister. The prime minister takes a very different view. He thought that information should be shared. And it’s on the basis of that disagreement that the prime minister took his decision.” Asked again if the decision to sack Robbins was fair, McFadden said: “It’s the prime minister’s judgment. If you’ve lost the confidence, then it’s difficult to continue.” After being asked a third time, the minister said: “Of course as a cabinet member, I support the prime minister’s decisions.” His comments came 24 hours after energy secretary David Miliband said he and former foreign secretary David Lammy both had concerns that Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson might “blow up”. He told Sky News: “I think prime ministers make errors. Prime ministers are fallible. Prime ministers are human.” Miliband added: “I had a conversation with David Lammy about it before the appointment, and I said I was worried about it … I think he was worried about it too.” Subscribe to Commons People , the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster. Related... Trump Blasts Starmer For 'Really Bad Pick' In Mandelson Labour MPs 'Vote With Their Feet' As Support For Starmer Drains Away Amid Mandelson Fallout 5 Bombshell Revelations As Sacked Civil Servant Piles More Pressure On Starmer
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