What we heard from Peter Kylepublished at 09:40 BST
09:40 BST
Peter Kyle, who has just taken up his role as Business Secretary, just faced a grilling by Laura Kuenssberg on a range of topics. Here’s a recap of what he said:
Mandelson and Epstein
“The victims must come first,” Kyle stated, after watching an emotive interview with the family of Virginia Giuffre’s, a victim of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
While he said things were “weighed up” on Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, based on his skills and what they knew about his relationship with Epstein, Kyle refused to say if it was a mistake or not.
He also refused to say if it was enough that only three questions were asked to Mandelson by Starmer about Epstein.
“If we had known the information that we know now, it is highly unlikely that he would’ve been appointed.”
Starmer’s judgement
The recent changing of government appointments also was a talking point. Kyle defended Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s judgement: “What he has done is he has raised the standards of public life.”
He praised the speed of Starmer’s decision making, particularly when ministers fail to meet the standards they set.
Kyle heard disgruntled opinions from the audience towards Starmer and his judgement, but the secretary says the government is delivering with Starmer’s leadership.
He gives the example of the US relationship, and that the UK has the best and only deal across the line.
“We accept that we need to do better,” he adds.
Protests
Asked about the protests yesterday in London, hosted by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, he said it proves that freedom of association and freedom of speech are “alive and well” in the UK.
Elon Musk’s comments to the crowd, including that they must “fight back or die”, were “totally inappropriate”, Kyle added.
The small minority who committed acts of violence should be held accountable, he added.