PM Shocked Over Lack of Disclosure on Mandelson's Vetting Failure
Sir Keir Starmer has expressed that it is "staggering" he was not informed, as prime minister, about Lord Peter Mandelson failing initial security vetting checks.
The prime minister is under pressure to resign following revelations that vetting officers advised against Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US, a recommendation that was subsequently overruled by the Foreign Office.
Sir Olly Robbins, who had recently begun leading the Foreign Office at the time of the appointment, was effectively dismissed by Sir Keir last night.
Opposition parties have called for Sir Keir's resignation, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch describing the explanations as "completely preposterous" and asserting that "all roads lead to resignation."
Timeline of Mandelson's Appointment and Vetting
Lord Mandelson was announced as the UK's ambassador to the US in December 2024, prior to the completion of comprehensive vetting procedures.
He officially assumed the role in February 2025 and was dismissed seven months later due to his connections with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On Thursday, an investigation by revealed that Mandelson had been appointed despite failing the initial security vetting.
Later that day, the government stated that no minister had been informed of the vetting failure at the time, and that the prime minister only became aware of it earlier this week.
Prime Minister's Response
Speaking to journalists in Paris on Friday, Sir Keir said:
"That I wasn't told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering.
That I wasn't told that he had failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable.
Not only was I not told, no minister was told, and I'm absolutely furious about that.
What I intend to do is to go to Parliament on Monday to set out all the relevant facts in true transparency, so Parliament has the full picture."
When asked why he appeared to be a passenger rather than the driver in government decisions and whether the Foreign Office acted unilaterally on this political appointment, Sir Keir reiterated that he was not informed.
He added:
"Number 10 was not told that he had failed security vetting - that is completely unacceptable."
Government and Opposition Reactions
Senior minister Darren Jones stated that Sir Keir had not misled MPs when asserting that due process was followed and therefore would not resign.
Jones told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there was no obligation under the rules for ministers to be informed about security vetting decisions at the time of Mandelson's appointment.
"The Foreign Office did not tell the prime minister that they had granted developed vetting status to Peter Mandelson against the advice of the security and vetting process,"
he said.
Jones added that the prime minister only became aware of this on Tuesday evening of the current week, when documents were made available as part of the process of selecting material related to Mandelson's appointment for release to MPs.
Jones said the prime minister had planned to make a statement to MPs on Monday, April 20, after establishing all the facts but was compelled to act following 's publication of the story.
When questioned why Sir Keir did not raise the issue during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the day after learning about it, Jones explained that the prime minister had requested full details from Antonia Romeo, head of the civil service, to ensure accuracy when addressing MPs on Monday.
However, this explanation was rejected by Badenoch, who said:
"It is completely preposterous that the prime minister, the former chief prosecutor of this country, did not ask basic questions, did not ask to look at the security vetting himself."
All roads lead to resignation - at some point there has been deliberate dishonesty."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for an investigation by the Privileges Committee, the same mechanism used to hold Boris Johnson accountable over the Partygate scandal, to determine if Sir Keir intentionally misled Parliament.
Further Parliamentary Scrutiny
Foreign Affairs select committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry has invited Sir Olly Robbins to give evidence on Tuesday next week, marking his second session regarding his involvement in the Mandelson controversy.
Labour MP Dame Emily told :
"Perhaps he can tell us… was it his own idea, or was he being leant on elsewhere?
Or was he, being a civil servant, was he getting direction from elsewhere, and if so, by whom?"
Dame Emily also highlighted the careful wording in a letter she received from Cooper concerning the vetting process, which stated that the vetting had "concluded" with clearance granted.
"It says he was vetted, and it says he was appointed, but it doesn't say it was overridden… I'm saying is that, you know, people have basically been telling us half the story,"
she added.
Political Reactions and Calls for Resignation
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, speaking on the campaign trail in Edinburgh, reaffirmed his call for Sir Keir to resign over the Mandelson affair, stating that questions remain for Downing Street and the UK Government.
He said:
"I stated my position, I stand by it, I don't recoil for it, the Mandelson scandal was the tipping point for me,"
adding he believed Lord Mandelson to be "a traitor to his party and country."
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