Is Starmer a liar or incompetent?

The revelation that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting, has left Keir Starmer looking like he is a liar or incompetent.

Starmer had told the House Mandelson passed his vetting. This was untrue. He claims he only found out this week that he had not passed. The head of the Foreign Office has been sacked, as the official who gave a waiver.

But it is almost impossible to think that the Foreign Office permanent secretary would have given a waiver to Starmer’s personal appointment as US Ambassador, without consulting the PMs office.

Even more unbelievable is that even after Starmer said several months ago that his vetting process was normal, that no one thought to tell the PM or his office that Mandelson in fact had failed it. It is hard to believe they could be that incompetent.

Starmer was probably toast anyway after the May local elections, but this may bring him down even before then.