Opposition day on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, in the House of Commons, led by Alex Burghart. The answering members were Nick Thomas-Symonds, Neil O'Brien and Chris Ward.

Lord Mandelson

Seventeenth opposition day debate. Motion that an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, That he will be graciously pleased to give directions to require the Government to lay before this House all papers relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as His Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America, including but not confined to the Cabinet Office due diligence which was passed to Number 10, the Conflict of Interest Form Lord Mandelson provided to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), material the FCDO and the Cabinet Office provided to UK Security Vetting about Lord Mandelson's interests in relation to Global Counsel, including his work in relation to Russia and China, and his links to Jeffrey Epstein, papers for, and minutes of, meetings relating to the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson, electronic communications between the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff and Lord Mandelson, and between ministers and Lord Mandelson, in the six months prior to his appointment, minutes of meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers in the six months prior to his appointment, all information on Lord Mandelson provided to the Prime Minister prior to his assurance to this House on 10 September 2025 that 'full due process was followed during this appointment', electronic communications and minutes of all meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers, Government officials and special advisers during his time as Ambassador, and the details of any payments made to Lord Mandelson on his departure as Ambassador and from the Civil Service. Manuscript Amendment to Amendment (a) made. Main Question, as amended, agreed to. Resolved That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, That he will be graciously pleased to give directions to require the Government to lay before this House all papers relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as His Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America, including but not confined to the Cabinet Office due diligence which was passed to Number 10, the Conflict of Interest Form Lord Mandelson provided to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), material the FCDO and the Cabinet Office provided to UK Security Vetting about Lord Mandelson's interests in relation to Global Counsel, including his work in relation to Russia and China, and his links to Jeffrey Epstein, papers for, and minutes of, meetings relating to the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson, electronic communications between the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff and Lord Mandelson, and between ministers and Lord Mandelson, in the six months prior to his appointment, minutes of meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers in the six months prior to his appointment, all information on Lord Mandelson provided to the Prime Minister prior to his assurance to this House on 10 September 2025 that ‘full due process was followed during this appointment’, electronic communications and minutes of all meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers, Government officials and special advisers during his time as Ambassador, and the details of any payments made to Lord Mandelson on his departure as Ambassador and from the Civil Service except papers prejudicial to UK national security or international relations which shall instead be referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 780 cc273-375
Session: 2024-26
Department: Cabinet Office
Procedure: Addresses to the Crown
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
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House of Commons
Proceeding contributions: Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c273 (Link to this contribution)
I inform the House that I have selected the amendment tabled in the name of the Prime Minister.; Alex Burghart | 780 c273 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move,
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be gracious...; Luke Evans | 780 c274 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making excellent points. It is a surprise not to see the Prime Minister answeri...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c274 (Link to this contribution)
Order. In fairness, that is not a problem for Mr Burghart to address. Who responds is a matter fo...; Alex Burghart | 780 c274 (Link to this contribution)
I am glad that it is not my problem, Mr Speaker. My hon. Friend is right: the appointment of this...; Simon Hoare | 780 c274 (Link to this contribution)
This is a serious issue, and my hon. Friend is dealing with it appropriately. He will have heard,...; Alex Burghart | 780 c274 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point—one that is central to our considerations and ...; Jim Shannon | 780 c274 (Link to this contribution)
I commend the shadow Minister and the Conservative party for bringing forward this matter for con...; Alex Burghart | 780 c269 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman is entirely right. The more we pull on this thread, the more we seem to find. ...; Aphra Brandreth | 780 c269 (Link to this contribution)
The Foreign Affairs Committee, on which I sit, called for Lord Mandelson to appear before us on m...; Alex Burghart | 780 c275 (Link to this contribution)
That is a significant representation from a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. It must be s...; Pete Wishart | 780 c270 (Link to this contribution)
The shadow Minister is absolutely right in his summary of all Jeffrey Epstein’s misdoings. We hea...; Alex Burghart | 780 c272 (Link to this contribution)
There is no doubt that the Prime Minister’s judgment is being called sharply into question at thi...; Andrew Murrison | 780 c272 (Link to this contribution)
Will my hon. Friend give way?; Alex Burghart | 780 c273 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way one more time, and then I must make some progress.; Andrew Murrison | 780 c273 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister’s judgment is most certainly in the frame. What about his candour? Does my hon...; Alex Burghart | 780 c274 (Link to this contribution)
As my right hon. Friend knows, the Government developed an appetite for candour and then lost the...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Alex Burghart | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way in a moment; I would like to make a little progress.
It was reported this m...; Julian Lewis | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
It has been for years a matter of mystery and speculation where Epstein acquired his vast wealth....; Alex Burghart | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is quite right that this is exactly one of the issues that must now be inves...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Oliver Dowden | 780 c275 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Alex Burghart | 780 c275 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way to my right hon. Friend.; Oliver Dowden | 780 cc275-7 (Link to this contribution)
At the heart of what we are talking about is this. Do we accept the amendment from the Government...; Alex Burghart | 780 c277 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend, who was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and who knows more about natio...; Claire Hanna | 780 c277 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Alex Burghart | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
I promised to give way to my old adversary the right hon. Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corb...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
I compliment the hon. Member on the content of his speech so far. This inquiry will have massive ...; Alex Burghart | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Gentleman appears to be correct in that there is certainly an indication that seri...; Claire Hanna | 780 c276 (Link to this contribution)
The House is getting a lesson that many families in Northern Ireland, such as those of Sean Brown...; Alex Burghart | 780 c278 (Link to this contribution)
Without wishing to be distracted from the motion at play, I have seen Secretaries of State for No...; Meg Hillier | 780 c278 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Alex Burghart | 780 c278 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way one more time and then I intend to make some progress.; Meg Hillier | 780 c277 (Link to this contribution)
There is a well-worn route for dealing with these matters, through Humble Addresses and otherwise...; Alex Burghart | 780 c277 (Link to this contribution)
I am glad that the hon. Lady agrees with us that the ISC should be used in this context. I am gla...; Jeremy Wright | 780 c277 (Link to this contribution)
Will my hon. Friend give way on that?; Alex Burghart | 780 c277 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way one more time.; Jeremy Wright | 780 c277 (Link to this contribution)
Since my hon. Friend mentions the Intelligence and Security Committee, of which I am a member, ma...; Alex Burghart | 780 cc278-9 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. and learned Friend speaks from a position of experience. He is entirely right; the ...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c279 (Link to this contribution)
I call the Paymaster General to move the amendment.
1.12 pm; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 cc279-280 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move amendment (a), at the end to add
“except papers prejudicial to UK national se...; Stephen Flynn | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Member give way?; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
I will complete my introductory remarks, and then I will give way to the right hon. Gentleman.; Stephen Flynn | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister for giving way. I am curious. Earlier we heard the Prime Minister state that...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
On the second point, I played no personal role in the appointment process, but as the Prime Minis...; Angela Rayner | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
Given the public disgust, the sickening behaviour of Peter Mandelson, and the importance of trans...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 cc279-281 (Link to this contribution)
Let me pick up this point, which I know a number of right hon. and hon. Members have raised. In t...; 780 c281 (Link to this contribution); Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
I will take one more intervention, and then I have to make some progress.; Derek Twigg | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
It is disappointing that neither the Opposition nor the Government have referenced the important ...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
As I think I have already said, I will take the point away. My hon. Friend knows from our persona...; Luke Evans | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Oliver Dowden | 780 c280 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c281 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way to the former Deputy Prime Minister, then I have to make some progress.; Oliver Dowden | 780 c281 (Link to this contribution)
The point here is not about impugning the integrity of the Cabinet Secretary; the point is about ...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c281 (Link to this contribution)
I was not accusing the hon. Member for South Suffolk of impugning the Cabinet Secretary; my point...; Simon Hoare | 780 c281 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c281 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way once more to the Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Co...; Simon Hoare | 780 c282 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the Minister—he knows that the House knows that he is an honourable gentleman in...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c282 (Link to this contribution)
As I said to the former Deputy Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Hertsmere (Sir Oliver Do...; Meg Hillier | 780 c282 (Link to this contribution)
Will my right hon. Friend give way?; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c282 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way in a moment.
Let us be clear: no Government Minister of any political party...; 780 c282 (Link to this contribution); Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c282 (Link to this contribution)
Let me finish this point; I will take some more interventions in a moment.
Peter Mandelson ...; 780 c282 (Link to this contribution); Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c282 (Link to this contribution)
I will take one intervention—; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 cc282-3 (Link to this contribution)
Order. We are getting very carried away with the way in which the work of the Metropolitan police...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c283 (Link to this contribution)
I hear precisely what you say, Mr Speaker, and I entirely accept that interpretation of the sub j...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c283 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Maybe I can help a little. I think the answer was, “We can’t do this, because there is a p...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c283 (Link to this contribution)
I completely accept that, Mr Speaker.; 780 c283 (Link to this contribution); Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c283 (Link to this contribution)
I will take one intervention from a Member on the Government Benches, then I will take one from a...; Chris Vince | 780 c283 (Link to this contribution)
I made this point on Monday, but it is really important to make it again. The vast majority of Me...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c283 (Link to this contribution)
Yes. The public rightly demand the highest standards from those in office and from Ministers. We ...; 780 c283 (Link to this contribution); Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c283 (Link to this contribution)
Order. The Minister has been giving way and will give way, but you cannot all stay on your feet s...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c283 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will take an intervention from the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Bradley T...; Bradley Thomas | 780 c284 (Link to this contribution)
At the point immediately prior to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, the UK had a respe...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c284 (Link to this contribution)
May I pay tribute to Dame Karen Pierce? She represents the finest of our foreign service.
G...; 780 c284 (Link to this contribution); Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c284 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and then my hon. Friend the Member ...; Meg Hillier | 780 c284 (Link to this contribution)
I am no longer the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.
It seems that we are in somethin...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c284 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the existing mechanisms of scrutiny, and I give her grea...; Sarah Owen | 780 c284 (Link to this contribution)
On the point about Peter Mandelson letting people down, let me say that the people let down the m...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c284 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is the victims—the women and girls who were victims of the...; 780 c284 (Link to this contribution); Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 cc284-5 (Link to this contribution)
I will make a bit of progress, then I will give way a few more times.
Not only has the Cabi...; Edward Leigh | 780 c285 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister give way?; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c285 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way to the right hon. Gentleman in one moment.
The Government should rightly be...; Edward Leigh | 780 c285 (Link to this contribution)
We are all agreed on the character of Lord Mandelson, but I am not sure that we will make much pr...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c285 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister answered that question at Prime Minister’s questions. He was lied to about the...; Jonathan Brash | 780 c285 (Link to this contribution)
I stand here acutely aware that I am the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, and I think today I...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c285 (Link to this contribution)
I absolutely agree; my hon. Friend expresses the anger felt by many across the House.; 780 c286 (Link to this contribution); Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c286 (Link to this contribution)
I will make some more progress, before giving way a few more times.
Members will recall tha...; Clive Efford | 780 c286 (Link to this contribution)
There is clearly concern about Government amendment (a)—that it does not go far enough to enable ...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c286 (Link to this contribution)
A manuscript amendment would be a matter for the Chair. As the Chair, I would be sympathetic to w...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c286 (Link to this contribution)
Well, I hope that the House always takes me at my word when I say that I will take these matters ...; Gareth Snell | 780 cc286-7 (Link to this contribution)
I remember the Humble Addresses that were tabled in this place during the Brexit years. The Minis...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c287 (Link to this contribution)
I think my hon. Friend and I have similar memories of that particular Parliament. To give an exam...; Jeremy Wright | 780 c287 (Link to this contribution)
I am really grateful to the Minister for giving way. I know that he takes the role of the ISC ver...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c287 (Link to this contribution)
Beyond the deadline to amend the motion—a familiar situation that the right hon. and learned Memb...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c287 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister just said that the deadline has passed to table an ...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c287 (Link to this contribution)
The Chair is able to select a manuscript amendment, for which there is a high bar. There is a lot...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c287 (Link to this contribution)
I hope the House takes in good faith what I have sought to do in the course of my speech, let alo...; Andrew Murrison | 780 c287 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister give way?; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c288 (Link to this contribution)
No.
The scope of the motion could also include thousands of documents. It is obviously in t...; 780 c288 (Link to this contribution); Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c288 (Link to this contribution)
Let me make some progress, and I might come back to interventions.
The Government have tabl...; Andrew Murrison | 780 c288 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister give way?; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 c288 (Link to this contribution)
I am someone who rewards effort, so as the right hon. Gentleman has put in such effort, I will gi...; Andrew Murrison | 780 c288 (Link to this contribution)
May I return the compliment by telling the Minister how much I admire his ability and generosity ...; Nick Thomas-Symonds | 780 cc288-9 (Link to this contribution)
I hope the House has seen, even over the course of this debate, the constructive approach I have ...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c289 (Link to this contribution)
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
1.41 pm; Lisa Smart | 780 c289 (Link to this contribution)
We are having this debate today solely because of the women and girls who found the courage to co...; Carla Lockhart | 780 c289 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member is right: victims should be at the heart of this process. The allegations against...; Lisa Smart | 780 cc289-290 (Link to this contribution)
I agree with the hon. Lady’s characterisation of some of the individuals we are talking about tod...; Edward Morello | 780 c290 (Link to this contribution)
In evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee after Mandelson had been withdrawn from Washington, ...; Lisa Smart | 780 c290 (Link to this contribution)
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. I am not sure what extent of friendship with a known, con...; Luke Evans | 780 c290 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Lady’s point is exactly right: this information was in the public domain, often in the U...; Lisa Smart | 780 c290 (Link to this contribution)
I am sure that I have been listening as intently as the hon. Gentleman. There are so many questio...; Mike Martin | 780 c290 (Link to this contribution)
The Minister said that Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes were “unforgivable”. Does my hon. Friend think th...; Lisa Smart | 780 c291 (Link to this contribution)
I think my hon. Friend is referring to the appointment of the friend of a known paedophile, rathe...; Mike Martin | 780 c291 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you very much.; Lisa Smart | 780 c291 (Link to this contribution)
That is an important clarification to make. Rightly, there are questions surrounding the judgment...; Clive Lewis | 780 c291 (Link to this contribution)
Obviously, people here want to get to the bottom of this, in terms of the accountability of the P...; Lisa Smart | 780 cc291-2 (Link to this contribution)
I wholeheartedly agree with the hon. Gentleman. I wonder whether he has looked at my notes and re...; Luke Taylor | 780 c292 (Link to this contribution)
On the information available, does my hon. Friend share my discomfort about the fact that the sit...; Lisa Smart | 780 c292 (Link to this contribution)
The best disinfectant is often daylight. I am strongly in favour of transparency; I welcome it, i...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c292 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Lady’s point about the wider establishment is important. Individuals like Sir Richard Br...; Lisa Smart | 780 c293 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Lady is entirely right to talk about the very well-known men—and it is men, wealthy, pow...; Caroline Johnson | 780 c293 (Link to this contribution)
The transparency point is really important. Peter Mandelson was a Labour politician and this is a...; Lisa Smart | 780 c293 (Link to this contribution)
A series of Administrations have not been as open as they could be, and have made poor choices ab...; Andrew Murrison | 780 c293 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister has said that it is all okay, because the Cabinet Secretary will command this ...; Lisa Smart | 780 c294 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Gentleman has clearly been reading Liberal Democrat press releases, because we bel...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 c294 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member is making some excellent points. Does she agree that all the inquiry systems that...; Lisa Smart | 780 c294 (Link to this contribution)
I am always delighted to get agreement from across the political spectrum, and I very much agree ...; Richard Foord | 780 c294 (Link to this contribution)
On the shortcomings of what the Prime Minister proposed from the Dispatch Box earlier, the Cabine...; Lisa Smart | 780 c294 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend makes the point extremely well. I believe that an inquiry in public, which could t...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c294 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Lady give way one more time?; Lisa Smart | 780 c294 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way one last time.; Alicia Kearns | 780 c295 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Lady for raising that issue. I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary on 5 December, ask...; Lisa Smart | 780 c295 (Link to this contribution)
I strongly agree with the hon. Lady. Transparency is what the public deserve, and it is what we i...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c295 (Link to this contribution)
I would like to start by acknowledging the victims of Epstein and the powerful men around him: vu...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c295 (Link to this contribution)
Does the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee regret describing the appointment of Peter Mandel...; Emily Thornberry | 780 cc295-6 (Link to this contribution)
I will come to that, because it is important, and it is important to put it in context.
Sin...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c296 (Link to this contribution)
I understand that the right hon. Lady is saying that the information that Peter Mandelson had mai...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c297 (Link to this contribution)
Anyone who either made the decision or said that it was a good thing must regret it, of course, b...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c297 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Lady give way?; Emily Thornberry | 780 cc296-7 (Link to this contribution)
May I just finish?
For instance, I said this:
“if you had come before us, we would ha...; 780 c297 (Link to this contribution); Emily Thornberry | 780 c297 (Link to this contribution)
No, please, let me finish. [Interruption.] I want to finish what I am saying.; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c297 (Link to this contribution)
Order, please.; Emily Thornberry | 780 c297 (Link to this contribution)
So the decision to appoint was made. There was supposed to be some due diligence before that happ...; 780 c298 (Link to this contribution); Emily Thornberry | 780 c298 (Link to this contribution)
Seven Members are seeking to intervene. If I may, I will perhaps take two interventions.; Richard Tice | 780 c298 (Link to this contribution)
This whole debate centres on the judgment, and trust in the judgment, of our Prime Minister of th...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c298 (Link to this contribution)
Again, for the record, I asked the Cabinet Secretary why he was not prepared to give that informa...; Caroline Johnson | 780 c298 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Lady is making strong and clear points about the relationship between Epstein and ...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c298 (Link to this contribution)
I think I have made it clear that, for me, there is a difference between being a friend of someon...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c298 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Emily Thornberry | 780 cc298-9 (Link to this contribution)
I will not take any more interventions.
I have explained what our Committee was told about ...; Mike Martin | 780 c299 (Link to this contribution)
As Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, does the right hon. Lady know what the then Foreign Se...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c299 (Link to this contribution)
The point is that the due diligence and vetting are done by civil servants and are not supposed t...; Mike Martin | 780 c299 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right hon. Lady for giving way once again; she is being very generous. What is the po...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c299 (Link to this contribution)
No, it is given to those who are making the decisions—as I understand it. The due diligence is do...; Simon Hoare | 780 cc299-300 (Link to this contribution)
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee is right in that respect. I will just quote from a ...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c300 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman. Yes, I have read the letter—I am afraid I did not have it at my finge...; Wendy Morton | 780 c300 (Link to this contribution)
I will touch on vetting in my contribution later, but as someone who was vetted by the Foreign Of...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c300 (Link to this contribution)
I understand what the right hon. Lady is saying. Obviously, I do not know. All I can do to help t...; Jim McMahon | 780 c300 (Link to this contribution)
I appreciate my right hon. Friend’s explanation of the process, because many people outside it wo...; Nusrat Ghani | 780 c300 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Before the right hon. Member responds, let me say that we have a very healthy number of Me...; Emily Thornberry | 780 c301 (Link to this contribution)
Throughout my contribution, I have tried to explain the attempts that the Foreign Affairs Committ...; Julian Smith | 780 c301 (Link to this contribution)
Humble Addresses are very difficult for the Government of the day and for Chief Whips. The Minist...; Paul Foster | 780 c301 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Julian Smith | 780 c301 (Link to this contribution)
I am not going to give away.
We heard earlier about a discussion between members of the ISC...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c302 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my right hon. Friend for making that point. From my perspective—I wonder if he agrees wit...; Julian Smith | 780 c302 (Link to this contribution)
I agree with my hon. Friend on that point. I am aware that one of our Five Eyes allies gave a war...; Matt Bishop | 780 cc302-3 (Link to this contribution)
I want to start by saying that I remain extremely supportive of the Government. I am proud of wha...; Stephen Gethins | 780 c303 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member will be aware that, earlier on today, the Prime Minister made the concession from...; Matt Bishop | 780 c303 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for his intervention. I think we are talking about trust across the House...; Paul Foster | 780 c303 (Link to this contribution)
My understanding is that new information is coming out daily and that other current Members of th...; Matt Bishop | 780 c303 (Link to this contribution)
Anybody linked should be investigated—simple.
If we are not fully transparent about how we ...; Jim McMahon | 780 c304 (Link to this contribution)
On that point, quite a lot in the disclosures naturally raises questions about probity. The issue...; Matt Bishop | 780 c304 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I completely agree. I will get on to the ISC in a second.
What would I say to those vi...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c304 (Link to this contribution)
I wish to credit the hon. Gentleman for the speech he is giving today. Very early in my career, I...; Matt Bishop | 780 cc304-5 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for her words.
How can we mark our own homework on matters of such ...; Simon Hoare | 780 cc305-6 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Matt Bishop). I will return in a m...; Andy McDonald | 780 c306 (Link to this contribution)
Given what the hon. Gentleman has said, does he agree that the amendment as drawn would, in effec...; Simon Hoare | 780 cc306-7 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. Why else would we have an Intelligence and Security Commi...; Freddie van Mierlo | 780 c307 (Link to this contribution)
There are many questions on the behaviour of Mandelson that are unanswered and that need to be an...; Simon Hoare | 780 c306 (Link to this contribution)
I think, Mr Speaker, that we usually prefer for matters relating to those sorts of things not to ...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c306 (Link to this contribution)
To help the House, let me say that because this now relates to a person who is not a member of th...; Simon Hoare | 780 c307 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. My hospital pass has just gone through the shredder. Let me say to the hon...; Graham Stuart | 780 c308 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is right to look at the process, but I do not think that it provides any cover for...; Simon Hoare | 780 c308 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is right, but if this motion is passed unamended this afternoon, all those p...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c308 (Link to this contribution)
There does seem to be amnesia about this. When Mandelson was made ambassador, it was well known t...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c308 (Link to this contribution)
Order. It is not me who will say when it is 4 o’clock, but I would gently say that this is Opposi...; Simon Hoare | 780 c309 (Link to this contribution)
Conscious of that, Mr Speaker, let me say that I agree with my hon. Friend, and then conclude wit...; Polly Billington | 780 cc309-310 (Link to this contribution)
Let me first take a moment for us to remember those women and girls who were silenced, marginalis...; Stephen Gethins | 780 c310 (Link to this contribution)
I have raised the point about the Prime Minister, but there is a broader point here. Lord Mandels...; Polly Billington | 780 c310 (Link to this contribution)
I accept that there are wider constitutional implications for what we are talking about right now...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c310 (Link to this contribution)
I think that, by refusing to believe the victims over Jeffrey Epstein, Mandelson is an example of...; Polly Billington | 780 cc310-1 (Link to this contribution)
I will continue to explain in my remarks why I think this is a moment where we need to draw a lin...; Stephen Flynn | 780 c311 (Link to this contribution)
In this Chamber, just under three hours ago, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom made a long...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c311 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I can inform Members that this debate will now run until 7 pm to allow more Members to spe...; Stephen Flynn | 780 c311 (Link to this contribution)
Four hours is plenty for me, Mr Speaker.
This is a dark and disgusting day for this Chamber...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c311 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Stephen Flynn | 780 c311 (Link to this contribution)
I will not, I am afraid.
The Prime Minister knew that the two had a relationship, yet he ig...; Scott Arthur | 780 c312 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Member give way?; Stephen Flynn | 780 c312 (Link to this contribution)
No, I will not.
Today’s debate is important because we will get to the bottom of what Peter...; Scott Arthur | 780 c312 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Member give way?; Stephen Flynn | 780 c312 (Link to this contribution)
I said I will not. The hon. Member can sit down and listen to my speech today, as his colleagues ...; Scott Arthur | 780 c312 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right hon. Member for giving way. I really do think that he is misreading the mood of...; Stephen Flynn | 780 c312 (Link to this contribution)
What a desperate and foolish intervention. I would have let the hon. Member intervene earlier, if...; Scott Arthur | 780 c312 (Link to this contribution)
This debate is about trying to find agreement on how the information can be released into the pub...; Stephen Flynn | 780 cc312-3 (Link to this contribution)
Yet another one—the hon. Member excels himself.
On Monday, the Prime Minister was at the Di...; Natalie Fleet | 780 cc313-4 (Link to this contribution)
Being a Member of Parliament is a huge privilege that brings with it a huge responsibility—a resp...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c314 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Bolsover (Natalie Fleet). Actually, in writing my ...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c313 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend talks about it being worth the risk, but this is not just about denigrating those ...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c315 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Matt Bis...; Jim McMahon | 780 c314 (Link to this contribution)
I want to reflect on the hon. Gentleman’s interventions during the course of the debate, which ha...; Kieran Mullan | 780 cc314-5 (Link to this contribution)
I would like to see the detail of it, but that was a helpful intervention from the former Deputy ...; Pete Wishart | 780 c315 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Gentleman share my opinion that Labour Members just do not seem to get it? There is...; Kieran Mullan | 780 cc315-6 (Link to this contribution)
I think some Labour Members do get it, which is why we are seeing furious activity with the usual...; Wendy Morton | 780 c316 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that this boils down to judgment, whether it is the Prime Minister’s or...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c316 (Link to this contribution)
As I said, both the Prime Minister and, as we understand it, his chief of staff decided that it w...; Graham Stuart | 780 c316 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that the Minister needs to tell us at the Dispatch Box whether the New ...; Kieran Mullan | 780 cc316-7 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and there are many other questions that we want answere...; Richard Burgon | 780 c317 (Link to this contribution)
Of course, the thoughts of everyone in this House are with the victims and survivors of Epstein’s...; Ellie Chowns | 780 c317 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Gentleman agree that it appears that the Prime Minister turned a blind eye to what ...; Richard Burgon | 780 c318 (Link to this contribution)
I agree with the hon. Member. If the Government are foolish enough to push their amendment, which...; Apsana Begum | 780 c318 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that if the Government are serious about their commitment to transparen...; Richard Burgon | 780 c318 (Link to this contribution)
I agree with my hon. Friend’s important point. I say for the record that she was treated terribly...; Sorcha Eastwood | 780 c319 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Member agree that, at a time when trust across the UK is at a low, what the public—...; Richard Burgon | 780 c319 (Link to this contribution)
I totally agree with the hon. Member’s powerful point. It is no wonder that trust in politicians ...; Mike Martin | 780 c319 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Richard Burgon | 780 c319 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way shortly. I think the Prime Minister would be delighted if I gave way now, because...; Mike Martin | 780 c319 (Link to this contribution)
This important debate deals with corruption on an international scale, and with women and girls w...; Richard Burgon | 780 c320 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman may not have understood the point that I am making—perhaps that is the Liberal...; John Lamont | 780 cc320-1 (Link to this contribution)
No matter which party we represent, no matter what deeply held differences we have and no matter ...; Graham Stuart | 780 c321 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a powerful speech, grounded as it is in the Nolan principles. Does he ag...; John Lamont | 780 cc321-2 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is right. The Prime Minister’s position, particularly after his remarks duri...; Stella Creasy | 780 c321 (Link to this contribution)
Like the hon. Gentleman, I have been a Member of this place for longer than I care to remember, a...; John Lamont | 780 c321 (Link to this contribution)
The obvious question that stems from the hon. Lady’s point is why on earth the Prime Minister mad...; Paula Barker | 780 cc321-3 (Link to this contribution)
I place on record that my thoughts are with the women and girls who were victims of Epstein and h...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c323 (Link to this contribution)
Rumours abound that a manuscript amendment will be tabled to bring forward something that Labour ...; Paula Barker | 780 c323 (Link to this contribution)
I think I have made it clear what I think of the Government amendment.
I will end by saying...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 cc324-5 (Link to this contribution)
This debate is crucial and seminal, but first and foremost it must be about the victims of the ho...; Graham Stuart | 780 c325 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Gentleman is making a powerful speech. He referred to the speech on factionalism m...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 cc324-6 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Member makes a very fair point. Of course, the role of factions within parties is ...; 780 c326 (Link to this contribution); Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c326 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I must inform the House that a manuscript amendment to amendment (a) has been tabled by th...; Scott Arthur | 780 cc326-7 (Link to this contribution)
I have been waiting for three hours to speak in this debate, and I wanted to talk about consensus...; Paul Holmes | 780 c327 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman has just said that he thinks it is absolutely right that this House focuses on...; Scott Arthur | 780 c327 (Link to this contribution)
That is why I am here, in this debate. I want these documents released, so that we can understand...; Andrew Snowden | 780 c327 (Link to this contribution)
We know the decision that was made. Peter Mandelson was appointed ambassador when it was known th...; Scott Arthur | 780 cc327-8 (Link to this contribution)
Hopefully the documents will explain what happened. Hopefully.
I know I do not look old eno...; Jerome Mayhew | 780 c328 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member says that he would not buy a second-hand car from Mandelson. Would he have made h...; Scott Arthur | 780 c328 (Link to this contribution)
On the basis of my knowledge of him, absolutely not, but I have not seen the vetting documents, i...; Gregory Stafford | 780 c328 (Link to this contribution)
Given that—rightly, I think—the hon. Gentleman would not have appointed Peter Mandelson ambassado...; Scott Arthur | 780 c328 (Link to this contribution)
At lunchtime, during Prime Minister’s Question Time, we heard at length from the Prime Minister t...; Stella Creasy | 780 c328 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend was here when I said that we should not only deal with this situation—I am with th...; Scott Arthur | 780 cc328-9 (Link to this contribution)
The vetting procedure, as described by the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, seemed so insu...; Lisa Smart | 780 c329 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me the opportunity to clarify. In my speech, I said e...; Scott Arthur | 780 c329 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful for the correction. Perhaps I was not listening quite as carefully as I should have...; Paul Holmes | 780 c329 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman’s speech is coming across to me as quite miraculous, and not in a good way. He...; Scott Arthur | 780 c329 (Link to this contribution)
Can we just reflect for a second? The original Humble Address was reckless. It was going to put i...; Wendy Morton | 780 c329 (Link to this contribution)
All things being equal, would the hon. Gentleman have gone through the Aye Lobby or the No Lobby ...; Scott Arthur | 780 c329 (Link to this contribution)
I had complete confidence that the Minister would reach consensus in the House today. Seriously t...; Wendy Morton | 780 c329 (Link to this contribution)
I think our motion was and is very clear, and we know how evidence and information are brought fo...; Scott Arthur | 780 c329 (Link to this contribution)
Mr Speaker, I am trying to sit down. I will do so.
4.12 pm; John Whittingdale | 780 c330 (Link to this contribution)
We have heard some very powerful speeches in this debate. It is a credit to this House that we ar...; Jerome Mayhew | 780 c330 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister made a huge deal about the process that had been gone through when he answered...; John Whittingdale | 780 cc330-1 (Link to this contribution)
That was made absolutely clear right from the start. Indeed, the permanent under-secretary descri...; Karen Bradley | 780 c331 (Link to this contribution)
I rise with incredulity, having learned that there was not a requirement to dispose of the intere...; John Whittingdale | 780 c331 (Link to this contribution)
I completely share the view of my right hon. Friend. Like her, I went through a process in which ...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c331 (Link to this contribution)
Another appointment that we have had is that of the National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, w...; John Whittingdale | 780 cc331-2 (Link to this contribution)
Once we get the revelations from the documents as to precisely what occurred in the case of Lord ...; Luke Evans | 780 c332 (Link to this contribution)
Does my right hon. Friend believe it is conceivable that the Government did not ask, “Is there an...; John Whittingdale | 780 cc332-3 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There are two possible questions. First, why did the British ...; Lincoln Jopp | 780 c333 (Link to this contribution)
As I am sure my right hon. Friend remembers, once the Bloomberg leak had happened, many of us sai...; John Whittingdale | 780 c333 (Link to this contribution)
I completely share my hon. Friend’s astonishment. As further revelations come out about the behav...; James Wild | 780 c333 (Link to this contribution)
In his interrogation of the permanent under-secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Developmen...; John Whittingdale | 780 c333 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and actually he anticipates my next point. I asked the perman...; Jerome Mayhew | 780 c333 (Link to this contribution)
I was just thinking about the response that my right hon. Friend got from the permanent under- se...; John Whittingdale | 780 cc333-4 (Link to this contribution)
I have to say to my hon. Friend that I regarded the whole session as a sort of masterpiece in Sir...; Andrew Lewin | 780 cc334-5 (Link to this contribution)
Let me start by putting on record my horror at the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, as so many hon. Mem...; Johanna Baxter | 780 c335 (Link to this contribution)
He is in Westminster Hall.; Andrew Lewin | 780 cc334-5 (Link to this contribution)
The only thing that matches his number of interventions in Westminster Hall is his decency as a m...; Anna Dixon | 780 c335 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend has articulated very eloquently how we have come together in this House both to ro...; Andrew Lewin | 780 c335 (Link to this contribution)
I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend. That is why I began my remarks by saying that this ha...; Gregory Stafford | 780 c335 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for the tone of his speech. I agree with him about the need to use modera...; Andrew Lewin | 780 c336 (Link to this contribution)
There are unquestionably things that we did not know. I listened incredibly carefully to the Prim...; 780 c336 (Link to this contribution); Andrew Lewin | 780 c336 (Link to this contribution)
I will make some progress.
All of us in this House deserve the truth. Everyone in this coun...; Zarah Sultana | 780 cc336-7 (Link to this contribution)
This situation stinks. Peter Mandelson maintained a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after he ha...; Vikki Slade | 780 c337 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Member agree that potentially every single working person, retired person and child...; Zarah Sultana | 780 cc337-8 (Link to this contribution)
I absolutely agree. This is a systemic issue, and that is why I support the calls for an independ...; Jim Allister | 780 c338 (Link to this contribution)
There is an old proverb—it might be of Russian extraction, which would be fitting enough—that say...; Simon Hoare | 780 c338 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. and learned Gentleman agree that there may be some considerable merit in both the E...; Jim Allister | 780 cc338-9 (Link to this contribution)
That was the point I was coming to.
Sadly, the European Union being the European Union, it ...; Luke Evans | 780 cc339-340 (Link to this contribution)
“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.” That is a slightly obscure quote from a Trojan priest—the one w...; Stuart Anderson | 780 c340 (Link to this contribution)
I found it shocking today when the Prime Minister openly admitted that he knew that Mandelson had...; Luke Evans | 780 cc339-340 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Troy fell because leaders ignored the advice given when the h...; Christopher Chope | 780 cc341-2 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Hinckley and Bosworth (Dr Evans), who pa...; Peter Prinsley | 780 c342 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member is giving a historical perspective, which I am sure we all appreciate. It seems t...; Christopher Chope | 780 c341 (Link to this contribution)
I do not know how much credibility the hon. Gentleman has given to people whom he knows to be ser...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c342 (Link to this contribution)
We know that there is one thing that Mandelson did not lie about, because the Prime Minister knew...; Christopher Chope | 780 c342 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend makes a point that is typically made in court. When the defendant is found to be l...; Joe Robertson | 780 c342 (Link to this contribution)
Perhaps I can rephrase the question asked by the hon. Member for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket (...; Christopher Chope | 780 c342 (Link to this contribution)
If the Prime Minister was here, I am sure that he would be able to answer that question. What has...; Luke Evans | 780 c343 (Link to this contribution)
Can my hon. Friend tell us what we can learn about the documentation, and how the investigation w...; Christopher Chope | 780 c343 (Link to this contribution)
I was going to conclude by saying that I go along with those people who have called for a public ...; Julian Lewis | 780 c343 (Link to this contribution)
Mandelson was not just a key member of New Labour; he was its inventor. He was the man who replac...; Christopher Chope | 780 c343 (Link to this contribution)
I am sorry; I understated the proposition, and my right hon. Friend is quite right to correct me....; Stuart Anderson | 780 c343 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a great speech about Mandelson’s influence in the Labour party. It is re...; Judith Cummins | 780 c343 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I am having difficulty hearing the debate.; Christopher Chope | 780 c343 (Link to this contribution)
What you were hearing, Madam Deputy Speaker, was incredulity being expressed by my hon. Friends a...; Graham Stuart | 780 c344 (Link to this contribution)
The Government tried to stop the full disclosure of documents today. It was primarily Government ...; Christopher Chope | 780 c344 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely. We have to erode this cancer that is affecting our public life and the esteem in whic...; Samantha Niblett | 780 c344 (Link to this contribution)
I am a from the 2024 intake, and I am very grateful that I have never had to meet the cretin that...; Christopher Chope | 780 c344 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her intervention, and I am certainly not going to make any acc...; Paul Holmes | 780 c344 (Link to this contribution)
According to reports, it is worse than that: Peter Mandelson had his fingertips throughout the wh...; Christopher Chope | 780 c344 (Link to this contribution)
These revelations keep coming, yet answers come there none. I hope that in due course we can purs...; Esther McVey | 780 c345 (Link to this contribution)
When we talk about the appointment of Mandelson, what we are really talking about is the judgment...; Christopher Chope | 780 c345 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Judgment, discretion and the way that we behave are fun...; Graham Stuart | 780 c345 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that the Minister should find out—if he does not already know—whether M...; Christopher Chope | 780 c345 (Link to this contribution)
And if the Government cannot give a straight answer to my right hon. Friend’s question, that is a...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c345 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend mentioned the revelations that are coming out of the emails. The point I made earl...; Christopher Chope | 780 c345 (Link to this contribution)
That is another very good point. I am sure that it has been picked up by Members on the Treasury ...; Rupert Lowe | 780 c345 (Link to this contribution)
I very much enjoyed the history lesson about a man who has a history of misfeasance in public off...; Christopher Chope | 780 c346 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend makes his point in his own way. I just draw attention to the fact that “Freedom 25...; Julian Lewis | 780 c346 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend, who is very experienced, believe that one of the lessons of inherent necessi...; Christopher Chope | 780 c346 (Link to this contribution)
Actually, I think the appointment has been made. I have met the gentleman concerned, who is an es...; Luke Evans | 780 c346 (Link to this contribution)
We have heard during the course of this debate that a manuscript amendment to amendment (a) will ...; Christopher Chope | 780 c346 (Link to this contribution)
I am not going to suggest that we do not vote in support of our own motion. We know from the cour...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c347 (Link to this contribution)
It is a great honour to follow my hon. Friend, although I have to say that was one of his shortes...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c347 (Link to this contribution)
I think the fact that the Prime Minister resisted giving that answer for so long proves that he k...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c347 (Link to this contribution)
I agree with my hon. Friend. We were sitting together earlier in the debate and reflecting on som...; Alec Shelbrooke | 780 c347 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that focusing on the angle of what Mandelson did as a Minister in relea...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c348 (Link to this contribution)
We should all share anger about that, because it speaks to a rot that, as we are finding out, has...; Johanna Baxter | 780 c348 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for giving way, because I would not want any Member of this House to inad...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c348 (Link to this contribution)
I am glad to say that I did not mention any single Member of the House, so I am happy that the ho...; Johanna Baxter | 780 c348 (Link to this contribution)
indicated dissent.; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c348 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member can shake her head all she wants; we know that Mandelson had a close relationship...; Stuart Anderson | 780 c348 (Link to this contribution)
On that point, it is being reported in the mainstream media that Mandelson had a hand in recruiti...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c348 (Link to this contribution)
I could not have said it better myself—although I might not have used the word “you”. It is impor...; Luke Evans | 780 c349 (Link to this contribution)
Is the wider point not that, if the Prime Minister had been duped, he would have released the pap...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c349 (Link to this contribution)
Well, it is not bizarre, because we have been here many times before. The Government have been dr...; Alec Shelbrooke | 780 c349 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend think that we will now start to understand how Mandelson had such a level of ...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c349 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend’s exasperation is exactly the exasperation that the British public will be f...; Paul Holmes | 780 c349 (Link to this contribution)
In response to the intervention from my right hon. Friend Member for Wetherby and Easingwold (Sir...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c350 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend always makes excellent points. I was going to talk about Gordon Brown later, but I...; Harriet Cross | 780 c350 (Link to this contribution)
As my hon. Friend says, the Prime Minister knew, but he also stood at the Dispatch Box in Septemb...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 cc350-1 (Link to this contribution)
I find it disgusting. What Epstein did was absolutely disgusting in its own right: he trafficked,...; Joe Robertson | 780 c351 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a powerful, wide-ranging speech, and I am sure that more details will co...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c351 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister has brought his judgment into question. The Opposition have been saying that f...; Graham Stuart | 780 c351 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend may have heard the powerful speech by the hon. Member for Leeds East (Richard Burg...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c351 (Link to this contribution)
I will leave Labour Members to reflect on that because many have spoken up today, but I say once ...; Esther McVey | 780 c352 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to raise a very sensitive issue. My hon. Friend raised a point about vulnerable women ...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c352 (Link to this contribution)
I will end with two responses to that intervention. First, my right hon. Friend is obviously abso...; John McDonnell | 780 c352 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am sorry to disturb the debate in this way. I have t...; Jeremy Wright | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I recognise that the right hon. Member for ...; 780 c353 (Link to this contribution); John McDonnell | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
If I could follow that, Madam Deputy Speaker—; Caroline Nokes | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
Order. There are several other points of order. I am keen that we do not conduct the debate via p...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Following the answer we have just heard, if the Intell...; Cameron Thomas | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. We have heard this evening from the hon. Member for Gr...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
Order. That is not a point of order; it is a point of debate. I do not think it is appropriate du...; Cameron Thomas | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to you for allowing me to continue, Madam Speaker. The hon. Member for Great Yarmou...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his point of order. He has very clearly brought into question the ...; John McDonnell | 780 c353 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am really grateful for the intervention from the rig...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that point of order. As he will know, the powers of the ISC ...; Simon Hoare | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. My point relates to the point of order from the hon. M...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for that point of order. He will know that declarations of interest are n...; Rupert Lowe | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. I have declared these payments in the register, an...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman will have heard my earlier comment that it is a matter not for the Chair but f...; Paul Holmes | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Forgive me for detaining the House, but may I ask for ...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
I did ask the Member to withdraw his comments. He now has the opportunity to do so.; Cameron Thomas | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I withdraw the remark that the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth was bought an...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c354 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for putting that on the record. If there are no more points of order, I c...; Wendy Morton | 780 cc354-5 (Link to this contribution)
At the start of this afternoon, I sat through Prime Minister’s questions and did not really have ...; Joe Robertson | 780 c355 (Link to this contribution)
Is it not shocking that the Prime Minister not only appointed Peter Mandelson knowing his relatio...; Wendy Morton | 780 c355 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is just so right, and I will come to that point a little later.
The core of ...; Bradley Thomas | 780 c356 (Link to this contribution)
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the public are sick and tired of people who appear to fail u...; Wendy Morton | 780 c356 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely.
I will share something with the House today. I never set out to be a politician...; Alec Shelbrooke | 780 c356 (Link to this contribution)
To my right hon. Friend’s question about vetting, can she foresee a circumstance where a professi...; Wendy Morton | 780 c356 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend makes a really important. This is about probity and evidence and making sure...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c356 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Will the hon. Lady make sure that she refers to the Prime Minister as the Prime Minister, ...; Wendy Morton | 780 cc356-7 (Link to this contribution)
I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker, I was getting a bit carried away there.
The Prime Minist...; Saqib Bhatti | 780 c357 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is making a serious and important point. She has talked about how she ended ...; Wendy Morton | 780 c357 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, but you just get used to that sort of thing when you have been h...; Harriet Cross | 780 c357 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend rightly talks about trust in politics and in politicians, but the issue is t...; Wendy Morton | 780 c357 (Link to this contribution)
That is exactly the point. I do not think it is for me to answer those questions; it is for the P...; Bradley Thomas | 780 c357 (Link to this contribution)
Aside from the evident, persistent and consistent failures in the Prime Minister’s integrity, doe...; Wendy Morton | 780 cc357-8 (Link to this contribution)
It absolutely beggars belief. If we want to clean up politics, this sort of thing should not be a...; Alicia Kearns | 780 cc358-9 (Link to this contribution)
“Liberation Day!”—that was how Mandelson described the day of Epstein’s release from prison for p...; Paul Holmes | 780 c359 (Link to this contribution)
As usual, my hon. Friend is making a good speech. I was a special adviser at the Cabinet Office—a...; Alicia Kearns | 780 cc358-9 (Link to this contribution)
I entirely agree with my very good and hon. Friend. I was taken aback by the comments of the Chai...; Alec Shelbrooke | 780 c359 (Link to this contribution)
This debate is about accountability; everything falls into the lap of the Prime Minister. Does my...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c359 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. He may also recall that, following Prime Minister’s que...; Markus Campbell-Savours | 780 c360 (Link to this contribution)
I will take the hon. Member’s word for it that those Humble Addresses did not contain those words...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c360 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I count two uses of the word “you”. I have not said anything; it is the hon. Member for Ru...; Markus Campbell-Savours | 780 c360 (Link to this contribution)
Apologies, Madam Deputy Speaker; I am obviously out of practice on interventions. Is the hon. Lad...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c360 (Link to this contribution)
I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman, because I agree that he should hold his Government to e...; Harriet Cross | 780 c360 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that, if she struggles today to get answers to those very basic and str...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c361 (Link to this contribution)
Unfortunately, as Members must slowly learn, where there is a vacuum of silence in this place, ou...; Paul Holmes | 780 c361 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend will recall that during various parliamentary debates in the Chamber on Peter Mand...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c361 (Link to this contribution)
One lesson of being in government—there are many—that I hope we have learned is that the writing ...; Stuart Anderson | 780 c361 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a passionate speech. Since today’s debate started, more information is c...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c362 (Link to this contribution)
It is very difficult, particularly when a party has such a high number of new MPs—we have been th...; Bradley Thomas | 780 c362 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree, particularly following her point about the writing being on the wall, ...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c362 (Link to this contribution)
I can give but one comment to those new MPs who may think that a reshuffle is a good thing: it ca...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 c362 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Member agree that the House should be slightly cautious here? We should not just ro...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c362 (Link to this contribution)
It is quite clearly the will of the House that that would be beyond unacceptable—it would be a co...; Graham Stuart | 780 c362 (Link to this contribution)
Will my hon. Friend give way?; Alicia Kearns | 780 c362 (Link to this contribution)
I will take one last intervention.; Graham Stuart | 780 c362 (Link to this contribution)
Further to that last intervention, we need an assurance that we will have urgency. We have seen v...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c363 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend hits on a point that no one has raised in today’s debate; without it, we wou...; Caroline Nokes | 780 c363 (Link to this contribution)
I call the shadow Minister.
6.24 pm; Neil O'Brien | 780 cc363-5 (Link to this contribution)
This has been an absolutely extraordinary day in British politics. It is not often that there is ...; Luke Evans | 780 c365 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that it is really important that we get clarity from the Government on ...; Neil O'Brien | 780 c365 (Link to this contribution)
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and I want to know whether the Minister agrees that the I...; Neil Shastri-Hurst | 780 c365 (Link to this contribution)
There is a fourth point, which is that there is likely to be a sizeable volume of documents for t...; Neil O'Brien | 780 cc365-6 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point—he is completely correct.
Today, I actually feel qu...; Chris Ward | 780 c366 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move a manuscript amendment, to add to the end of amendment (a):
“which shall inst...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c366 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister give way?; Chris Ward | 780 cc366-7 (Link to this contribution)
I will just make a little progress, then I will give way.
Mandelson lied to the Prime Minis...; 780 c367 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 c367 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way, just let me complete this point.
On Monday, the Prime Minister instructed ...; Kieran Mullan | 780 c367 (Link to this contribution)
It is pretty underhand of the Minister to make himself the champion of public anger about the per...; Chris Ward | 780 c367 (Link to this contribution)
As the Prime Minister has said many times, if he had known what he knows now, he would not have h...; Julian Lewis | 780 c367 (Link to this contribution)
I will try to make the same point as my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Dr Mullan)...; Chris Ward | 780 c367 (Link to this contribution)
As the Prime Minister has said, he was lied to repeatedly by Mandelson. I will come to the vettin...; 780 c368 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 c368 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way first to the right hon. Member.; Graham Stuart | 780 c368 (Link to this contribution)
Before the appointment of Peter Mandelson as our ambassador, he was appointed as a strategic advi...; Chris Ward | 780 c368 (Link to this contribution)
Just to be clear, he was not appointed to any role in the 2024 election campaign. I remember that...; 780 c368 (Link to this contribution); Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c368 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Who is the Minister giving way to? Four Members are standing.; Chris Ward | 780 c368 (Link to this contribution)
I give way to the hon. Lady.; Harriet Cross | 780 c368 (Link to this contribution)
Let us suppose that the Minister was appointing a new member of staff and he knew that a candidat...; Chris Ward | 780 c368 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Lady tempts me into hypotheticals that I am not going to get into. [Interruption.]; 780 c368 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 c368 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to make some progress. I will give way later, but a number of questions have been rais...; Caroline Johnson | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister said clearly today that when he appointed Peter Mandelson to the job as His Ma...; Chris Ward | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
As the Prime Minister made clear, he was lied to repeatedly by Peter Mandelson on this. Informati...; Alec Shelbrooke | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister stood at the Dispatch Box and said that he knew. The Minister says that docume...; Chris Ward | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
Before Mandelson was appointed, there were obviously reports linking him with Epstein. That was l...; 780 c369 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to make some progress, and deal with the motion.; Natalie Fleet | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister give way?; Chris Ward | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way to my hon. Friend. [Interruption.] She is the first Member behind me to whom I ha...; Natalie Fleet | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
Order. In fairness to the Minister, he has given way time and again to Conservative Members, and ...; Natalie Fleet | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
Does the Minister agree that we are here today because of the brave women who have spoken out and...; Chris Ward | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
I entirely agree. I could not have put it anywhere near as well as that—and, as I said earlier, m...; Alicia Kearns | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Chris Ward | 780 c369 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way once more, and then I will come to the motion.; Alicia Kearns | 780 c370 (Link to this contribution)
One of my concerns has been that when Mandelson was our ambassador in Washington DC, he was respo...; Chris Ward | 780 c370 (Link to this contribution)
Obviously anyone who made any allegation or report such as that would be treated seriously. I wil...; 780 c370 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 c370 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way one more time to the former Attorney General, and then I will move on.; Jeremy Wright | 780 c370 (Link to this contribution)
I am extremely grateful to the Minister for giving way; I know he wants to move on to the motion,...; Chris Ward | 780 c370 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right and learned Member for his speech earlier and for his point. Absolutely, yes; I...; Julian Smith | 780 c370 (Link to this contribution)
Could the Minister confirm on the Floor of the House that the Government will also include detail...; Chris Ward | 780 c370 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that and, as I mentioned at the beginning, for the way that ...; Alex Burghart | 780 c371 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the Minister for giving way; he is being very generous with his time. The Humble...; Chris Ward | 780 c371 (Link to this contribution)
As I said, everything in the Humble Address will be dealt with. On that specific point, I will fo...; 780 c371 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 c371 (Link to this contribution)
I will get on to the motion, and then I promise I will give way.
As I said, the Government ...; Jeremy Corbyn | 780 c372 (Link to this contribution)
I mean no disrespect to the Intelligence and Security Committee, but the Minister will have heard...; Chris Ward | 780 c372 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that. The police investigation will go wherever it needs to ...; Ellie Chowns | 780 c372 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister give way?; Chris Ward | 780 c372 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to make some progress, because time is pushing on. I will give way in a second.
...; Polly Billington | 780 c372 (Link to this contribution)
Just for further clarity, people are concerned that there will be a decision made by the Governme...; Chris Ward | 780 c372 (Link to this contribution)
The release of information will be done in the way I have just set out. Either it will be done th...; Paul Holmes | 780 c373 (Link to this contribution)
I really must push the Minister, because he is giving conflicting messages. At one stage, he said...; Chris Ward | 780 c373 (Link to this contribution)
Any correspondence involving Peter Mandelson is within scope. As I say, that will be looked at by...; Derek Twigg | 780 c373 (Link to this contribution)
Can I give an assurance that we in the ISC are very confident that we can do an effective job on ...; Chris Ward | 780 c373 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I can confirm that. I thank my hon. Friend, who has huge expertise. We will work with the IS...; 780 c373 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 c373 (Link to this contribution)
I am not going to give way any more. There are four or five minutes to go. I will make some progr...; Ellie Chowns | 780 c373 (Link to this contribution)
The Minister has set out the difference between national security matters and issues which may be...; Chris Ward | 780 c373 (Link to this contribution)
As I say, the timeline will be as soon as possible. We want to get on with this. There is a lot o...; 780 c373 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 cc373-4 (Link to this contribution)
No more, I am afraid. I am so sorry.
I just want to deal with two more points. On a public ...; Anneliese Midgley | 780 c374 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister clarify that the documentation will go to the ISC, and that the ISC, not the Ca...; Chris Ward | 780 c374 (Link to this contribution)
Let me try one more time. It will either be made public by the Cabinet Secretary, or it will go t...; 780 c374 (Link to this contribution); Chris Ward | 780 c374 (Link to this contribution)
No, I am winding up now.
It is absolutely right for the House to have debated this incredib...; Simon Hoare | 780 c375 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This relates to the point the Minister made about the Metropolit...; Lindsay Hoyle | 780 c375 (Link to this contribution)
Just to sum up, the Metropolitan police have no jurisdiction over what this House may wish to do....; Caroline Nokes | 780 c375 (Link to this contribution)
I will now announce the result of today’s deferred Division on the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions...
Subjects: Disciplinary proceedings Disclosure of information Criminal investigation Diplomatic service Correspondence Conflict of interests Intelligence and Security Committee Misconduct Prime Minister Public appointments Parliamentary scrutiny Offences against children Mandelson, Lord Vetting USA Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Global Counsel Epstein, Jeffrey
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

Lord Mandelson

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