Introduction
The prime minister's decision to appoint Lord Mandelson to Washington has become a recurring challenge for Sir Keir Starmer, resembling a horror film on loop.
This ongoing controversy has now led to the departure of another official—Sir Olly Robbins, the highest-ranking civil servant in the Foreign Office.
There are voices both among opposition members and within the Labour Party suggesting this issue could ultimately jeopardize the prime minister's position.
Timeline of Events on Thursday
Let me guide you through the remarkable developments of Thursday afternoon and evening.
Shortly after 15:00 BST, released a report stating that Lord Mandelson had failed his security vetting clearance, but the Foreign Office had overridden this decision.
Immediately, I contacted the Foreign Office, Downing Street, the then Foreign Secretary David Lammy's team, and the Cabinet Office. None responded for nearly three hours.
Typically, if a story is inaccurate or prematurely concluded, my phone rings within seconds. This time, it did not.
The opposition parties quickly inferred there was truth to 's claims. One after another, they appeared before cameras, accusing the prime minister of misleading the House of Commons and stating that if he did so knowingly, resignation would be necessary.
As I prepared to report live for at Six, a government statement arrived on my phone.
It declared that neither the prime minister nor any minister was aware of the conclusion reached.
The opposition parties resumed their media appearances.
How on Earth could he have been so lacking in curiosity about the process, they asked.
The prime minister is expected to address Parliament, likely on Monday, to clarify what he knew and when. Sources indicate he learned of the issue on Tuesday evening during the government's review of documents concerning Lord Mandelson, which Parliament has demanded be published.
Reactions and Internal Awareness
Sir Keir is reportedly extremely angry. Several individuals who worked in No10 at the time maintain they were unaware of the situation. Friends of Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister's chief of staff then, also say he was uninformed.
Incidentally, Lord Mandelson himself was reportedly unaware.
The government suggests the Foreign Office knew but failed to inform anyone—or at least did not ensure the foreign secretary or prime minister were notified.
This lack of communication has prompted Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to dismiss Sir Olly Robbins. Sir Olly has yet to comment publicly.
Some speculate that the vetting advice may not have been definitive, but the Foreign Office concluded Lord Mandelson failed, unlike others. However, this does not explain why the Foreign Office did not relay this conclusion.
Labour MPs’ Perspectives
The BBC team has reached out to Labour MPs for their views.
I think we've now reached the stage where the prime minister was blissfully unaware is a good explanation. That's where we are,reflected one.
Lost for words,said another.
Surely the cabinet now see it's dead,said a third, a long-standing critic of Downing Street, referring to the prime minister's future and implying it may be untenable.
Conclusion
This situation is precisely the last problem the prime minister needs, and it is unlikely to be the final development in this matter.
