Former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Morgan McSweeney started the grilling with an explosive statement in which he admitted that he ‘got it wrong’ over the Peter Mandelson appoinment
Former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Morgan McSweeney has made an explosive started to his grilling by the Foreign Affairs committee. Hauled in front of a group of MPs, led by chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry, McSweeney was set to be probed over the appointment of Peter Mandelson relating to his appointment as Ambassador to the United States.
However, before a question was asked, he took over the session with a rather explosive pre-prepared statement in full – in which he took full responsibility for “serious mistakes” and apologised.
Below is his full statement:
“My name is Morgan McSweeney. I was a former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer from October 2024 till February of this year. Chair, thank you for inviting me to appear before this committee today. I hope to assist you in your work as fully as I can. Before addressing the specific matters before you, I’m grateful that you’ve allowed me to say something briefly. First, I want to say about the victims and survivors connected to Jeffrey Epstein. Too often, discussions of public figures and appointments can lose sight of the human suffering at the centre of these matters.
“Women and girls were abused, exploited and scarred. They deserve protection then, and they deserve to be remembered now. I am sorry for any part this controversy has played in causing further hurt or distress. I have spent much of my working life trying, in whatever role I held, to make this country fairer, stronger and more successful. I have always believed public service is a privilege. It brings responsibility and scrutiny, but it also brings a meaningful chance to improve people’s lives.
“That is what motivated me in government. The appointment of Mandelson as ambassador was a serious error of judgement. I advised the Prime Minister in support of that appointment and I was wrong to do so. As I said in my resignation statement, I resigned because I believe responsibility. Should rest with those who make serious mistakes. Accountability in public life cannot apply only when it is convenient.
“The Prime Minister relied on my advice and I got it wrong. It is also important, however, to distinguish between what I did do and what I did not do. What I did was make a recommendation based on my judgement that Mandelson’s experience, relationships and political skills could serve the national interest in Washington at an important moment. That judgement was a mistake. What I didn’t do was oversee national security vetting, ask officials to ignore procedures, request that steps should be skipped, or communicates. Explicitly or implicitly that checks should be cleared at all costs.
“I would never have considered that acceptable. These processes are in place to protect our national security. Finally, I want to place on record my respect for those who serve our country through public institutions. MPs, ministers, civil servants, diplomats, security professionals and many others whose work is demanding, often unseen. In the Cabinet Office, the Foreign Office and 10 Downing Street, there will be many people working long hours now to understand what happened here and to ensure lessons are learned.
“They deserve fairness and respect as they do that work. Chair, I’m here to assist the Committee in its work. I made a serious mistake in recommending Mandelson’s appointment. I accept the consequences and hope today I can help the Committee to establish the facts and to make sure the right lessons are learnt.”
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