A Sunderland MP has revealed why he backed Sir Keir Starmer in a key vote on whether the Prime Minister should be referred to the Privileges Committee.

The motion was tabled by the Conservative Party to investigate whether Sir Keir Starmer had misled the House of Commons over appointing former Hartlepool MP Lord Peter Mandelson as the United States Ambassador.

In response, the Labour Party issued a three-line whip to order their MPs to vote against the motion – a strict requirement to vote a certain way with potential serious consequences for MPs if they defy the party.

Several North East MPs, including South Shields MP Emma Lewell, Jarrow and Gateshead East MP Kate Osborne, and Easington MP Grahame Morris, were among a small group of Labour MPs who rebelled against the Government and voted in favour of the motion.

Lewis Atkinson, the MP for Sunderland Central.

placeholder image — Lewis Atkinson, the MP for Sunderland Central.

All of Sunderland’s MPs – Sunderland Central’s Lewis Atkinson, Houghton and Sunderland South’s Bridget Phillipson and Washington and Gateshead South’s Sharon Hodgson - voted against the motion aiming to refer the Prime Minister to the Privileges Committee.

Ultimately the motion was voted down and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Labour MPs of being complicit in a “cover-up”.

When approached for comment, Mr Atkinson stressed parliamentary processes were already scrutinising the previous appointment of Lord Mandelson, who was forced out of the role over his links to late American paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, as United States Ambassador.

Mr Atkinson said on Wednesday: “Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed as Ambassador. The Prime Minister has rightly apologised for his mistaken decision to do that.

“There are already two parliamentary processes scrutinising this: the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and the publication of all documents overseen by the Intelligence and Security Committee. I support those investigations.

“Yesterday’s vote was a political stunt tried on by the Tories nine days before the local elections.

“They have spent more parliamentary time on this than on the cost of living, improving the NHS, or tackling antisocial behaviour.

“Those are my priorities, not party political stunts.”

Ms Hodgson, Ms Phillipson and Mr Morris were also approached for comment.