At the briefing of political journalists in Downing Street just now Starmer’s spokesman said the PM would never “knowingly” mislead the Commons. Heard that line before…
He said:
“The prime minister would never knowingly mislead Parliament or the public. He’s clear, though, that this information should have been provided to Parliament. It should have been provided to him, it should have been provided to other government ministers… But he clearly did not have this information – that is the crucial fact – he clearly did not have this information when he previously spoke to Parliament… he initiated a process to establish the facts that he could come to the house… as soon as the PM was informed of this information he had a meeting at which he commissioned a fact-finding exercise.”
Downing Street is also claiming Starmer couldn’t have informed the Commons on Wednesday about the Mandelson vetting situation because the “fact-finding exercise” was underway and he is today in a position to “provide the house with the fullest update.” The ‘exercise’ also sought to find out “how that information [the failed vetting] had not been provided in months since”…
No10 is on the back foot in its defence of Starmer’s position. The PM had the opportunity once again to be transparent – he did not take it…
Douglas Alexander – a friend of Starmer’s – was asked on Sky News if the PM will be in post at the next election. He wasn’t so sure himself:
“I think he will. There are no certainties but of course I think he will lead and I think he should because, frankly, on the biggest call in this parliament he’s exercised the right judgment, which is to keep us out of someone else’s war.”