Sir Keir Starmer’s appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the US has been labelled the “biggest mistake of his life” by a leading backbencher.
Jo White, who chairs the influential Red Wall group of Labour MPs, delivered the scathing assessment, adding that the government must “cleanse” itself of problems that have emerged from the vetting scandal.
Amid reports of a split within his cabinet, the Prime Minister has dismissed the allegations, accusing his opponents of being politically motivated.
Asked if she agreed with calls for Sir Keir to quit, Ms White told GB News: “Obviously I’ve heard these conversations at the side lines.
“I’ve been out and about in my constituency, speaking to local residents, and nobody has said to me they think it’s time for Keir Starmer to go.
“They obviously expressed concerns about exactly what’s happened and the way where we are now.
“But people have said to me, there’s a big job of work to be done, and their focus is on sorting out the cost-of-living crisis, and I met with the Red Wall group with Sir Keir yesterday, and our discussion wasn’t about Peter Mandelson.
“Our focus was on re-building industry and growth in our constituencies.”
She added: “He’s made the biggest mistake of his life.
“He’s admitted that, and I think that the biggest thing he has to do is re-iterate his commitment to clean up our politics, because we can only re-build trust if we cleanse ourselves of the problems.”
The Prime Minister has faced criticism for after it emerged that Downing Street may have considered giving former spin doctor Lord Matthew Doyle a diplomatic job.
Ms White, MP for Bassetlaw, said: “You don’t give people that served in your government or in Number 10 jobs.
“There should be no expectation.
“For example, if I have staff who’ve done well, I don’t look out where they’re going to go next.
“I might give them a bit of a pay rise.
“I might give them a box of chocolates.”
