Morgan McSweeney summoned to bombshell Commons hearing on Mandelson scandal

Morgan McSweeney summoned to bombshell Commons hearing on Mandelson scandalMorgan McSweeney dramatically quit in February for advising the PM to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador after a backlash over the peer's ties to Jeffrey EpsteinCommentsNewsLizzy Buchan Political Editor and Dave Burke Political Correspondent 17:58, 22 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesMorgan McSweeney will be summoned before MPs for a grilling next week(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Keir Starmer’s former top aide Morgan McSweeney will be hauled before MPs next week as the Prime Minister battles to curb the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal.‌Mr McSweeney dramatically quit in February, saying he took "full responsibility" for advising the PM to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador as No10 was plunged into turmoil by the backlash over the peer's ties to notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The powerful behind-the-scenes operator has now been summoned to give evidence to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee in a rare public appearance.‌A defiant Mr Starmer came out swinging today as the row over Lord Mandelson's vetting shows no sign of abating. In a tense exchange at PMQs, Kemi Badenoch said the PM must "finally take responsibility and go". But the PM said the Tory leader been "wrong, wrong, wrong" since it emerged last week that UK Security Vetting (UKSV) had recommended refusing Lord Mandelson top clearance before he was sent to Washington.‌READ MORE: Defiant Keir Starmer lashes out at critics calling on him to quit at bad-tempered PMQsREAD MORE: Minister repeatedly refuses to say if Keir Starmer was right to sack Olly RobbinsView 2 ImagesKeir Starmer has apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador(Image: Carl Court/PA Wire)The PM said: "The Leader of the Opposition claimed on Friday that Mandelson could not have been cleared against security advice. She was wrong about that. She said that ministers must have been told. S...