Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion

Baroness Coffey Excerpts

Tuesday 17th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

Noble Lords can listen to me or not, but the concept that our appointing a Minister to review the standards landscape in the whole is an obfuscation is disappointing to say the least. In terms of the Prime Minister’s responsibilities, he has apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson. He believed Peter Mandelson’s lies in response to the questions put to him. As soon as the Prime Minister became aware of this in September, Peter Mandelson was dismissed promptly.

[Baroness Coffey (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury (Con)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Coffey (Con)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, we are, hopefully, discussing the concept of rebuilding trust in politics and how we talk to each other. I will answer questions from either the noble Lord or the noble Baroness, but it is for them to decide.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

Noble Lords will appreciate that there is ongoing material, which will be published. All of that will be a matter of public record in due course.

[Baroness Coffey (Con)]

My Lords, this feels a bit “Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil” in the casual way that the Prime Minister followed process in appointing the US ambassador, the then Lord Mandelson. There is a concern that, when the humble Address was passed, former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney still worked for the Government and did not resign until a few days later. Yet Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, has said that everything the Government have has been published. I am concerned that all the documents have not yet been released by the Government. What has happened to the communications between Morgan McSweeney and anybody else involved in this while he was still working for the Prime Minister?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, I believe I have said on numerous occasions that this is the first tranche of material that has been published, as did the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. More material will be published in due course. I have answered several questions on that. I look forward to discussing it again with noble Lords when that is done.