Former Chief of Staff to Testify on Mandelson Vetting
The prime minister's former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, is scheduled to give evidence to MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday regarding his involvement in the security vetting of Lord Mandelson.
McSweeney, who advised the prime minister to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States, is expected to face inquiries about whether he exerted pressure on civil servants to expedite the vetting process.
This development follows allegations by former senior Foreign Office civil servant Sir Olly Robbins, who accused Number 10 of adopting a "dismissive" attitude towards the vetting procedure—a claim that Downing Street has denied.
Additional Witnesses and Committee Appearances
Cat Little, the most senior civil servant at the Cabinet Office, is set to appear before the committee on Thursday at 9:30 BST.
Committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry has indicated that the Foreign Office's Chief Property and Security Officer Ian Collard, along with former Foreign Office senior civil servant Sir Philip Barton, have also been requested to provide evidence.
Security Concerns and Internal Communications
Last week, Cat Little informed Sir Keir Starmer that the UK Security and Vetting (UKSV) team had expressed concerns regarding Lord Mandelson, yet the Foreign Office proceeded to grant him security clearance.
The prime minister effectively dismissed Sir Olly Robbins, expressing frustration that the Foreign Office had not informed him that Lord Mandelson had failed the security vetting.
Sir Olly Robbins' Account to the Committee
During his testimony to the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Sir Olly stated that he had not reviewed UKSV documents but had received an oral briefing indicating that Lord Mandelson's case was "borderline" and that the associated risks might be manageable.
He further explained that, according to civil service guidelines, he was not permitted to disclose details of the vetting process to the prime minister, only the final decision regarding the case.
Sir Olly also described an "atmosphere of pressure" within his department to complete the vetting process to enable Lord Mandelson to commence his new role in Washington.
Background and Consequences of the Appointment
Seven months after assuming the ambassadorial position, Lord Mandelson was dismissed due to his previous association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism for appointing Lord Mandelson, and in February, McSweeney resigned from his position at Downing Street, taking "full responsibility" for advising the prime minister to make the appointment.
The controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson's vetting has reignited concerns among Labour MPs regarding Sir Keir's judgment and leadership.
Political Reactions
Speaking to GB News, Labour MP Jonathan Brash stated:
"Ultimately, we are in a situation where I don't think anyone reasonably expects the prime minister to lead the party into the next election and I think we have to refocus this government on the priorities of the British people."
Defending his actions during Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir asserted that if the Foreign Office had informed him about the vetting concerns, "Mandelson would not have been committed to post."
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch commented that Sir Olly had been "sacked for the prime minister's own failings" and noted that her party's MPs "know that is not fair."
