Sir Keir Starmer Defends Mandelson Appointment in Commons
Sir Keir Starmer has appeared in the Commons to defend his role in the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. The controversy arose after it was revealed that Lord Mandelson received security clearance for the position in January 2025, despite officials responsible for vetting him advising against it.
Lord Mandelson formally assumed the ambassadorial role the following month but was dismissed seven months later due to his connections with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Prime Minister Criticizes the Foreign Office
The prime minister expressed strong criticism of the Foreign Office, the department responsible for authorizing Lord Mandelson's security clearance despite the concerns raised by security officials during vetting.
He stated that the department's officials should have informed him at the time of the clearance decision and subsequently failed on "repeated occasions" to update him, including during an investigation conducted by the UK's former top civil servant into Lord Mandelson's dismissal last year.
"The repeated failure to divulge the result of Lord Mandelson's vetting process was 'incredible', 'staggering' and 'astonishing'," the prime minister said.
Furthermore, the prime minister alleged there was a "deliberate decision" to withhold information about the vetting process from Members of Parliament who had previously conducted an inquiry into Lord Mandelson's removal.
Discussion on Sharing Vetting Results
The vetting process involves asking applicants intrusive questions regarding their finances, sexual history, health, and family background.
Sir Keir acknowledged that sensitive information obtained during this process, including details from two interviews with Lord Mandelson, should remain confidential.
However, he expressed his view that the overall vetting recommendation could have been shared with him.
He highlighted this as a significant difference between himself and Sir Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office who was effectively dismissed last week.
"He took the view this process did not allow him to disclose to me the recommendation," the prime minister said, adding, "he should have provided this information to me."
Sir Olly Robbins is scheduled to present his account on Tuesday before a Commons committee, and his response on this matter is expected to be closely scrutinized.
Denial of Misleading Parliament
Opposition parties have accused Sir Keir of misleading MPs last year when he stated in the Commons that "full due process" had been followed during Lord Mandelson's appointment.
This accusation carries political weight because government rules prohibit ministers from "knowingly misleading" Parliament.
When asked if he might have inadvertently misled the Commons, Sir Keir responded with a firm "no."
"I did not mislead the House," he stated, while acknowledging that MPs, including himself, should have been provided with more information.
Ordering a New Security Review
The prime minister announced that he has commissioned a review of "any security concerns raised" during Lord Mandelson's tenure as ambassador.
Sir Keir confirmed that Lord Mandelson had access to the highest level of classified material while serving in Washington.
The review will be conducted by the Government Security Group, a unit within the Cabinet Office.
This review is distinct from another ongoing investigation led by retired judge Sir Adrian Fulford, which examines the broader national security vetting system.
