LONDON: British lawmaker Zarah Sultana was removed from the House of Commons on Monday after accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of being a “bare-faced liar” during a heated exchange over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States.
Sultana, MP for Coventry South, refused to withdraw her remarks, prompting Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to order her removal from the chamber. She is expected to face a suspension of up to five days in line with parliamentary rules.
Her ejection came shortly after Lee Anderson of Reform UK was also removed from the Commons for similarly referring to the prime minister as a “liar.”
Under parliamentary protocol, members are prohibited from accusing one another of lying and must withdraw such statements if challenged.
The confrontation followed Starmer’s statement earlier in the day, in which he said he “would not have appointed” Mandelson as ambassador had he been aware that the former senior figure had failed security vetting conducted by UK Security Vetting.
Starmer told MPs he was unaware of the failed vetting until recently, describing himself as “frankly staggered” that the information had not been communicated to him by officials.
During the subsequent question session, Sultana sharply criticized the prime minister, alleging he had knowingly made the appointment due to political loyalties.
“We all know that the Prime Minister appointed Mandelson because he owes his job to him,” she said. “He appointed him, he defended him, and now he claims to know nothing.”
She added: “He is gaslighting the nation… The Prime Minister is a bare-faced liar,” prompting audible reactions in the chamber.
Speaker Hoyle immediately intervened, warning Sultana to withdraw her remarks or face disciplinary action. When she refused, a motion for her suspension was introduced by government whip Gen Kitchen and approved by MPs.
“I’ve given the option to withdraw… I’d leave if I were you,” Hoyle said before ordering her departure.
Later, Starmer addressed the controversy, acknowledging the decision to appoint Mandelson had been a mistake.
“I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson. I take responsibility for that decision,” he told MPs, also issuing an apology to victims linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The controversy stems from Mandelson’s failure to pass security checks conducted between December 2024 and January 2025. Downing Street has maintained that the Foreign Office did not disclose the concerns, with the prime minister placing responsibility on officials for failing to relay the information.
The incident underscores rising tensions in Parliament, as opposition figures intensify scrutiny of the government over transparency and accountability in key appointments.
