Concerns Raised Over Mandelson Vetting Disclosure
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has expressed that she is "extremely concerned" that ministers were not informed earlier about issues identified during the vetting process for Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK ambassador to the United States.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is currently under pressure from opposition parties to resign amid the unfolding scandal and is scheduled to respond to parliamentary questions on Monday.
The Foreign Office's highest-ranking civil servant, Sir Olly Robbins, who was dismissed last week in connection with the matter, is expected to appear before MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee the following day.
In anticipation of this appearance, Cooper wrote to the committee chair, Dame Emily Thornberry, stating that she had requested a review of the information provided to the committee to ensure its "full accuracy."
"I am extremely concerned about information that has now come to light and the fact that it was not previously provided to ministers - which has in turn affected information given to Parliament."
Prime Minister's Response and Parliamentary Implications
Sir Keir Starmer described it as "staggering" that he had not been informed sooner about Lord Mandelson's failure to pass security vetting. Previously, he had assured the House of Commons that due process had been followed, leading to accusations that he misled Parliament.
On Friday evening, Downing Street released an official account of a meeting held on 15 April, during which the prime minister stated he was informed about Lord Mandelson's vetting for the first time.
Deputy Prime Minister Comments on Appointment and Vetting
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told that had the prime minister been aware of Lord Mandelson's failure in the security vetting, he would have blocked the appointment as ambassador.
"I have absolutely no doubt at all, knowing the PM as I do, that had he known that Peter Mandelson had not passed the vetting, he would never, ever have appointed him ambassador,"Lammy said.
Lammy, who was foreign secretary at the time, added that neither he nor his advisers had been informed about the vetting process for Lord Mandelson. He acknowledged that there were some "time pressures" on the Foreign Office to confirm the appointment ahead of Donald Trump's return to the US presidency.
Regarding the dismissal of Sir Olly Robbins, Lammy expressed that he was "surprised and shocked" by the news, describing Robbins as an "outstanding" civil servant.
Sir Olly Robbins' Role and Committee Appearance
Sir Olly Robbins had been the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office for two weeks when Lord Mandelson's selection for the Washington ambassador role was announced.
His anticipated questioning by the Foreign Affairs Committee follows a request from Dame Emily Thornberry on Friday, who stated that developments last week "called into question" evidence he had previously provided to the committee.
understands that Sir Olly has not yet formally accepted the committee's invitation, but sources close to him indicate he is preparing to appear on Tuesday.
Some have defended Sir Olly, including Lord Simon McDonald, permanent secretary from 2015 to 2020, who told the BBC that Robbins was "thrown under the bus."
The BBC also reports that those close to Lord Mandelson consider Sir Olly's dismissal as permanent secretary to be "egregious."
Details of the Vetting Process and Appointment Timeline
Vetting of government employees and appointees is conducted by an agency overseen by the Cabinet Office, which provides recommendations to the hiring departments.
understands that the vetting report returned a "no" verdict regarding whether Lord Mandelson should be granted security clearance to access sensitive government material.
Lord Mandelson formally assumed the ambassador post in February 2025 but was removed in September after further information emerged about his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Political Reactions and Calls for Resignation
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, writing in the Mail on Sunday, accused Sir Keir Starmer of allowing others to take the blame while he remains in power, branding him "unfit to run the country."
"This is not just a political failure. It is a moral one. He has put our national security at risk... he should resign,"she wrote.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has called for an investigation by the Privileges Committee to determine whether the prime minister intentionally misled Parliament.
The Scottish National Party, Green Party, and Reform UK have also demanded Sir Keir's resignation.
