Monday briefing: How is it possible the prime minister didnât know about Mandelsonâs vetting failure?
In todayâs newsletter: As questions mount over transparency and accountability in the ambassadorial appointment process, the political fallout continues to spread across âKeir Starmerâs government Good morning. Today the prime minister will face parliament in the wake of the Guardianâs exclusive revelation that during the process of appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, the former New Labour âprince of darknessâ failed UK security vetting â something Keir Starmer says he was not told about.On Friday, Starmer said he was âabsolutely furiousâ and described the situation as âtotally unacceptableâ. But the episode has once again raised questions about his political judgment, with opposition parties â and some of his own MPs â calling for his resignation.Iran | Tehran is not planning to take part in new talks with the US in Islamabad, Iranian state media reported, as its military accused America of violating a fragile ceasefire by attacking a cargo ship.US news | At least eight children were killed and two adults wounded in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana. Police said the suspect, who died after a police pursuit, killed seven of his own children and wounded their mother, as well as killing another child.UK politics | Keir Starmer will deliver a high-stakes statement to MPs on Monday setting out how Peter Mandelson was able to take up his role as UK ambassador without the Foreign Office revealing it had overruled the decision to fail his vetting.Protest | Seven people from an activist group calling for higher taxes on the super-rich have been arrested by police on suspicion of conspiracy to steal after a plot to steal from high-end stores was uncovered.Crime | A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car hit pedestrians in central London in the early hours of yesterday morning. A woman in her 30s was in hospital in a critical condition and a man in his 50s suffered life-changing injuries. Continue reading...
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