Starmer sees off Tory calls for inquiry into Mandelson role after No 10 flexes muscle

Vote goes prime minister's way but some Labour MPs accuse him of creating perception of cover-up'

Keir Starmer has seen off an opposition attempt to refer him to a standards committee over Peter Mandelson's appointment, after Downing Street deployed its full weight to force Labour MPs to shore up the prime minister.

However, the Labour leader bore the brunt of anger from some of his own backbenchers who accused him of creating a situation where they would be perceived as being complicit in a cover-up".