Keir Starmer has narrowly avoided a parliamentary ethics inquiry over his handling of the appointment of Peter Mandelson, following a Commons vote which exposed divisions within his own party. Although Starmer defeated the Conservative-led motion, a group of Labour MPs rebelled, reflecting concerns about transparency and public trust. The controversy centres on Mandelson’s past links to Jeffrey Epstein and questions over whether proper vetting procedures were followed. Senior figures, including former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, have acknowledged the appointment as a serious error of judgment, while officials described pressure to expedite the process. Although testimony has not directly contradicted Starmer’s account, the episode has weakened his authority and intensified scrutiny of decision-making at the highest levels of government. For a view on why Starmer’s victory is less significant than it seems, see