Articles about Vetting

PM says he is ‘furious’ and did not know security officials had recommended that Mandelson be denied clearanceUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has said it was “unforgivable” that he was not told that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting before being appointed as ambassador to Washington.The prime minister said he was “furious” about what had happened, as he insisted he had not known that security officials had initially recommended that Mandelson be denied clearance. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Liberal Democrat leader calls for privileges committee to investigate whether PM misled parliamentUK politics live – latest updatesA powerful Commons committee should investigate whether Keir Starmer misled parliament over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, Ed Davey has said.The Liberal Democrat leader called for the prime minister to be investigated by the privileges committee to determine whether he committed contempt of parliament, an offence that can lead to a ministerial resignation. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer understood to have lost confidence in official over decision to override security vetting failureMandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decisionSir Olly Robbins, the UK Foreign Office’s top civil servant, is leaving his post after the decision to fail Peter Mandelson during his security vetting was overruled by his department.Robbins was the Foreign Office’s most senior official in late January 2025 when the decision was made, paving the way for Mandelson to become the US ambassador. Continue reading...

Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassadorOfficials debate withholding Mandelson vetting documents from parliamentFive key questions: Who overruled the decision to deny Mandelson security clearance?Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance but the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office to ensure he could take up his post as ambassador to the US, an investigation by the Guardian can reveal.According to multiple sources, Mandelson was initially denied clearance in late January 2025 after a developed vetting process, a highly confidential background check by security officials. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Opinions split on ‘unprecedented’ release of files, despite demand for ‘all papers’ related to ex-US ambassador’s appointmentSenior government officials have been considering whether to withhold from parliament sensitive documents that show Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting before he assumed the role of US ambassador, the Guardian can reveal.Any such decision could amount to an extraordinary breach of a parliamentary vote which ordered the release of “all papers” relevant to Mandelson’s appointment. Continue reading...