UK PM Starmer faces parliamentary probe vote over Mandelson appointment

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a parliamentary vote on whether to launch a probe into his hiring of Peter Mandelson, who was fired last September after revelations about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle approved a request from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for a debate and vote on referring the matter to the Committee of Privileges. Starmer's Labour Party holds a large majority and could vote down the inquiry. The controversy deepened after it emerged that a security vetting body described Mandelson's appointment as a borderline case and leaned against granting clearance, but foreign ministry officials overruled that decision without informing Starmer. If found to have knowingly misled parliament, Starmer's position could become untenable.