Security Vetting

Debate between John Milne and Keir Starmer

Monday 20th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I have made it clear that I knew what was in the due diligence. I have also made it clear that the FCDO granted security clearance before Peter Mandelson took up his post.

[John Milne (Horsham) (LD)]

There is a simple question to which we still do not have an answer. Did Peter Mandelson fail his vetting procedure because of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, or was there some other reason as yet undisclosed?

[The Prime Minister]

The information that was fed into the review, and the reasons for the review, are protected. This is not a Peter Mandelson issue; it is about the integrity of the process. What I do not accept is that that means I cannot be told the recommendation that comes out of it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Milne and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 29th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

What a contrast to the SNP: a strong Labour voice championing economic growth in Scotland. The AI developments this week show why we are right to put artificial intelligence at the heart of our plan for change. We have already secured £39 billion of AI investment, which will create 13,000 jobs across the UK. I agree with my hon. Friend that Scotland has real potential for AI growth zones. I will make sure that he can meet the relevant Minister to discuss that.

[John Milne (Horsham) (LD)]

Q13.   In my constituency of Horsham, my local council faces a tax bill of half a million pounds from the rise in national insurance, and my local hospice, St Catherine’s, has had to mothball a brand-new ward. What message does the Prime Minister have for all the public services that are outright losers at the hands of the very tax that is supposed to save them?

[The Prime Minister]

I am grateful to the hon. Member for raising this matter. As he knows, local councils received an increase in their settlement this year, so they have more money to deal with the problems that they face. They were underfunded and broken by the previous Government. We have now put that support funding in place. That is the right thing to do.