Mexico's new UK ambassador, Alejandro Gertz Manero, disclosed extensive wealth including luxury cars, properties, and jewellery, contrasting sharply with the governing Morena party's austerity motto. This follows several scandals involving other Morena officials exhibiting opulent lifestyles.
The UK Cabinet Office is set to release over 1,000 pages of documents related to Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington. The release, triggered by a humble address process, could raise awkward questions for Keir Starmer's government.
Steve Reed has dismissed 15 Labour MPs who voted with Kemi Badenoch's motion calling for Keir Starmer to be referred to the privileges committee as 'usual suspects'. The housing secretary told Times Radio and Sky News he was not bothered by the rebels, emphasizing that 99% of Labour MPs are united. The vote was won comfortably by the government, with 53 Labour MPs not participating in the division. This is the last PMQs of the 2024-26 parliamentary session before parliament prorogues at 1.15pm.
The UK's ambassador to the US has said Israel is probably the only country with a 'special relationship' with the United States, in leaked comments made during King Charles III's state visit. Sir Christian Turner told students in February that the phrase 'special relationship' is 'nostalgic' and 'backwards-looking', adding that the UK-US alliance is 'at the end of an era'. The FCDO said the private comments were not a reflection of government policy.
UK's new ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, privately described Keir Starmer as 'on the ropes' due to the Peter Mandelson scandal and suggested Israel, not Britain, has a 'special relationship' with the White House. The remarks are embarrassing for Downing Street.
Morgan McSweeney has admitted that Foreign Office officials came under intense pressure to expedite Peter Mandelson's posting as UK ambassador to Washington, but denied they were forced to skip security vetting steps. The former chief of staff, who resigned over the scandal, acknowledged asking the then top official Philip Barton to process the appointment 'at pace' but insisted he never asked officials to do anything improper. McSweeney described learning the extent of Mandelson's Jeffrey Epstein links as 'a knife through my soul' and admitted a 'serious error of judgment' in advising Keir Starmer to proceed with the appointment.
MPs are to vote on Tuesday on whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should be investigated for allegedly misleading the House of Commons over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US. The motion relates to comments Starmer made claiming 'full due process' was followed in the December 2024 appointment, despite UK Security Vetting recommending against granting security clearance. Former Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins confirmed he approved the vetting clearance without informing the PM of the initial recommendations.
The UK's ambassador to the US welcomes the state visit, at a difficult time for UK and US relations.
Chief property and security officer Ian Collard set to submit written answers to foreign affairs committee questionsA key figure in the row over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to Washington will not appear before a parliamentary committee of MPs to give evidence.Dame Emily Thornberry had requested that Ian Collard speak to the foreign affairs committee (FAC) on Tuesday, but confirmed on Saturday that he would submit written answers instead.Whether he felt under pressure to deliver Lord Mandelson’s clearance, after Sir Olly said there was an “atmosphere of pressure” and “constant chasing” from Downing Street.Whether he had seen the cover form for Lord Mandelson’s vetting by UK Security Vetting (UKSV), the agency responsible for checks on candidates for sensitive posts, in which it had ticked two red boxes – meaning they had “high concern” and recommended “clearance denied or withdrawn”.If he was asked by anyone in the Foreign Office, Downing Street or the Cabinet Office for advice about whether Lord Mandelson required vetting for the post given he was a member of the House of Lords.If he advised on how Lord Mandelson should be treated during the period between his appointment being announced and his clearance coming through. Continue reading...
Morgan McSweeney has denied claims he bullied civil servants into appointing Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US, telling a Kyiv security forum he does not recognise the character described in media reports. The former chief of staff, who resigned in February over his role in the hiring, is due to appear before the foreign affairs committee on Tuesday where he is likely to face questions over reported pressure on Foreign Office officials.
In an interview with Euronews, British Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Edward Hobart said the fragile US-Iran ceasefire should pave the way to a lasting peace with "a clear way forward".
The former head of the Foreign Office said there was "a very, very strong expectation" that Peter Mandelson "needed to be in post and in America as quickly as possible".
The former head of the Foreign Office said there was"a very, very strong expectation" that Peter Mandelson "needed to be in post and in America as quickly as possible".
Russian Special Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev has called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign, describing it as the best option for the UK. Dmitriev commented on leaked draft versions of Starmer's speeches containing apology options over the scandal involving former UK Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, who was removed in September 2025 after information emerged about his ties with American financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Keir Starmer has updated the House of Commons on what he knew, and when, in regard to Peter Mandelson’s vetting for the post of UK ambassador to the US. Was what the PM said enough to convince his party and the public that he should not resign? Continue reading...
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted Monday that he made the wrong judgment in appointing Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, revealing he would not have proceeded had he known Mandelson failed security checks. Starmer placed blame on Foreign Office officials for failing to inform him about the failed vetting, despite staff warnings about Mandelson's connection to Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson was dismissed in September, nine months after taking the role, following revelations about his friendship with Epstein. British police launched a criminal investigation and arrested Mandelson in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, which he denies.
British PM Keir Starmer acknowledged he made wrong judgment appointing Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, saying he would not have done so had he known Mandelson failed security checks. The explanation was met with jeers from opposition lawmakers who found it incredible the PM was unaware of such crucial information.
Keir Starmer has ordered an investigation into security concerns surrounding Peter Mandelson's tenure as UK ambassador to the US, admitting he made a 'grave mistake' in the appointment. The Prime Minister told Parliament that the Foreign Office overruled the UK Security Vetting recommendation to deny Mandelson developed vetting clearance on 28 January 2025 without informing him or other senior ministers. Starmer said he only learned of the issue recently and that the Foreign Office's failure to disclose this information was 'absolutely unforgivable'.
Keir Starmer will address parliament on Monday amid growing crisis over Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to Washington without disclosure of failed security vetting. The prime minister claims he was unaware the Foreign Office had overruled a decision to fail Mandelson's vetting, calling it "unforgivable" that he wasn't told after assuring MPs due process had been followed. Sacked Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins will testify on Tuesday, while senior government figures warn this week could be make-or-break for Starmer's leadership despite his handling of the Iran crisis.
Senior government figures fear decision to appoint former ambassador to US could cost PM his leadership Keir Starmer will deliver a high-stakes statement to MPs on Monday as he struggles to overcome fears inside his government that the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal could yet cost him his leadership.In what is set to be a dramatic showdown, the prime minister will set out how 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. Continue reading...
