Critical: Rachel Blake

UNDER-FIRE prime minister Sir Keir Starmer was quizzed by Rachel Blake about the lack of transparency underpinning the Lord Peter Mandelson vetting saga in a heated debate in the House of Commons.

The Labour MP for Cities of London and Westminster – who has previously criticised systemic sexism for driving the appointment – said she was “very concerned” about information appearing to have been withheld from democratically-elected politicians by the civil service.

On Monday she asked Sir Keir in the House of Commons: “My constituents are deeply concerned about the appointment of Peter Mandelson, and they want to see complete transparency going forward. I am very concerned to read that the civil servants in the cabinet office may have had this information about a month ago, and it has taken them this long to be in a position to share it with the democratically elected person making the appointment. What can the prime minister share with us today so that we do not have to face this type of issue in the future?”

Ms Blake was responding to Mr Starmer saying that key information about the vetting process had been held by the cabinet office, but only came to light last week. Mr Starmer respon­ded: “May I address that head-on?

“What happened was that the information came to the attention of senior civil servants who were, in fact, doing the compliance work on the Humble Address.

“When they saw the information about developed vetting they took legal advice straight away, asking whether it was legal to disclose that to me.

“They got that advice, and as soon as the advice was given they disclosed it to me straight away, last Tuesday. That was the right and appropriate thing for them to do. There is no criticism of what they did.”

Ms Blake has been highly critical of the government over the Mandelson scandal.

Last month she called on the prime minister to do more to “drive out” systemic sexism embedded in the corridors of power.

Ms Blake was responding to the PM’s chief secretary, Bristol North West MP Darren Jones, who had made a statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday about how and why the Mandelson appointment was made.

Ms Blake put it to Jones: “Does the chief secretary to the prime minister agree that the sickening behaviour and conduct of Mandelson is in part a symptom of structural misogyny?

“Will he use his office to drive structural misogyny out of White­hall and Westminster?”

Mr Jones had said “we must all learn this hard lesson and end a culture that dismisses women’s experiences far too often and too easily”.