Security Vetting

Debate between Keir Starmer and Tahir Ali

Monday 20th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

Yes, I will.

[Tahir Ali (Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley) (Lab)]

I believe that there are two sides to this. One is about process, and the other is about judgment. On process, I believe that the Prime Minister was not told about the security vetting clearance, and that, had he known, he would have sacked Peter Mandelson. We do not have a problem with that. The problem is this: why was he not told that, and who is actually running the country? Are other Ministers being kept in the dark by civil servants? On the issue of judgment, it was completely wrong to put Mandelson forward as an ambassador in the first place. Will the Prime Minister write to me this week confirming that in all the political appointments that have been made, no one is in position who has failed the advanced security vetting process?

[The Prime Minister]

That is included in the review that I have set up, and as soon as I have the findings I will share them with the House.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Tahir Ali

Wednesday 27th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I am very glad to see the right hon. Gentleman in his seat in the House, and I am sure that many of his colleagues in Scotland share that sentiment. What I can point to is a Government in Scotland that promised to take Scotland forward and took it backwards, so I can identify the first one and it is right there.

[Tahir Ali (Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley) (Lab)]

Q12. November marks Islamophobia Awareness Month. Last year, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution condemning the desecration of religious texts, including the Koran, despite opposition from the previous Government. Acts of such mindless desecration only serve to fuel division and hatred within our society. Will the Prime Minister commit to introducing measures to prohibit the desecration of all religious texts and the prophets of the Abrahamic religions?

[The Prime Minister]

I agree that desecration is awful and should be condemned across the House. We are, as I said before, committed to tackling all forms of hatred and division, including Islamophobia in all its forms.