Alicia Kearns

Alicia Kearns

Conservative — Rutland and Stamford

Speaking in the House of Commons on 4 February 2026

Debate

Lord Mandelson

Contribution

I understand that the right hon. Lady is saying that the information that Peter Mandelson had maintained a relationship with a then convicted paedophile passed her by. However, she does have an entire committee of Clerks who will have advised her. She also says that she said that this was an imaginative appointment. I am afraid she actually said that it was an “inspired appointment”. I know, because I spoke out against the appointment. Will she please tell me whether her Clerks at any point shared with her concerns about the background of Epstein and his relationship with Mandelson, and whether she will therefore now say that she regrets calling it an “inspired appointment”?

More from Alicia Kearns

Other recent Hansard contributions by the same speaker.

About Hansard

Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.

For Alicia Kearns's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the Alicia Kearns report card.

Partner sites