UK MPs are demanding clarity over missing documents related to Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington, with concerns raised about his vetting process and links to controversial figures.
US data analytics firm Palantir, valued at $375bn, faces growing criticism for its AI-driven software used by governments and corporations globally, including the NHS and US military. Concerns range from data privacy and potential misuse to its CEO's controversial statements and its role in geopolitical tensions.
Newly released documents reveal Peter Mandelson received sensitive security briefings and met with MI6 heads before completing his vetting process for the Washington ambassador role. Questions remain over withheld documents and security concerns.
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.
Former Foreign Office permanent secretary Sir Philip Barton has told MPs that he raised concerns about Peter Mandelson's links to Jeffery Epstein before his appointment as US ambassador, but was given no avenue to express them. Barton said there was 'absolutely' pressure from Downing Street to speed up vetting, with Number 10 appearing 'uninterested' in the process. He said the appointment was announced before vetting was complete, which was 'unusual', and that he was told to 'get on with it' despite his concerns about Epstein's 'toxic' nature in US politics.
The Foreign Affairs Committee is hearing evidence about the vetting of Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US, which was sacked in September 2025 over links to Jeffrey Epstein. Senior civil servant Sir Philip Barton said he was first aware of the decision on 15 December 2024 - five days before public announcement - and believed he should have been consulted. He said there was pressure to complete vetting by Trump's inauguration and no-one asked him to ensure the process was rigorous, despite identifying Epstein as a 'toxic hot potato subject'. The PM previously said 'no pressure existed whatsoever' before later acknowledging 'different types of pressure'.
Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will appear before the foreign affairs select committee to explain his role in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. The appointment, which cost McSweeney his job, has come under scrutiny following revelations about Mandelson's relationship with paedophile financier Jeffery Epstein. The article details the political alliance between Mandelson and McSweeney, forged through Lambeth council and later Labour Together, and their shared goal of removing the Labour left from power.
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A UK minister has revealed that Foreign Office officials refused to provide a summary of why Peter Mandelson was initially refused vetting clearance during his appointment as a minister. David Robbins, then Foreign Office counterpart, resisted sending the document despite requests as part of Commons 'humble address' proceedings. The Foreign Office also initiated discussions about whether vetting was needed for Mandelson as a member of the House of Lords. Additionally, there appears to be no official record of Prime Minister Keir Starmer approving Mandelson's appointment, with boxes for the PM's comments left blank on relevant forms.
Cat Little, Cabinet Office permanent secretary, will give evidence to MPs regarding the vetting of Peter Mandelson for ambassadorial clearance. The hearing follows controversy over Olly Robbins's sacking and the discovery of a recommendation against granting Mandelson clearance.
Keir Starmer faces PMQs today with the Peter Mandelson vetting row dominating the Westminster agenda. Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office permanent secretary whom Starmer sacked, gave evidence to MPs yesterday, with Labour MPs warning the prime minister's leadership is now on borrowed time. Former cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill said Robbins should get his job back.
Sir Olly Robbins, sacked as Foreign Office permanent secretary, told a select committee he was briefed that UK Security Vetting considered Peter Mandelson a 'borderline case' leaning towards recommending denial of clearance, but he took the decision to grant clearance without seeing the vetting file. MPs said the file showed two red boxes ticked indicating high concern and advice that clearance should be denied.
Sir Olly Robbins told MPs that Downing Street pressured the Foreign Office to expedite Lord Mandelson's security clearance, despite warnings from vetting officials. Mandelson was later dismissed as UK ambassador to the US over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Former senior civil servant Oliver Robbins told a parliamentary committee he faced 'constant pressure' from Downing Street to fast-track Peter Mandelson's security vetting for the US ambassador role, despite concerns from the UK Security Vetting agency.
Keir Starmer faces political crisis after it emerged Peter Mandelson failed UK security vetting before becoming US ambassador, yet the Foreign Office overruled the decision. Jonathan Freedland suggests the saga may ultimately cost Starmer his job, as he addressed MPs about the extraordinary powers used by officials.
The crisis around the embattled British prime minister continues to grow, with Sir Keir Starmer facing questions from MPs about what he knew of the vetting process of Peter Mandelson.
PM tells MPs he was wrong to appoint Peter Mandelson ambassador to US in his update to parliament Judgment day for PM over Mandelson scandalAt his press conference Nigel Farage was asked about reports saying that Keir Starmer knew about the security concerns about Peter Mandelson that led to him failing his security vetting interview. That was a reference to the Telegraph splash, which says:Senior Whitehall sources told The Telegraph that the UKSV [UK Security Vetting] findings largely restated security risks that had already been drawn to Sir Keir’s attention.One senior source with knowledge of the process said: “The reality is that Starmer had already been warned about the major risks and he had waved them away.”Sources have told The Independent that MI6 failed to clear the Labour peer largely because of concerns over his business links to China.However, there were also worries that his past links to the disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein “would compromise him”.It’s impossible for the prime minister to say the warning lights weren’t flashing.And if you were prime minister and there were news reports last September that your ambassadorial choice had failed vetting, you would have thought perhaps he might have had some curiosity to try to find out whether this had really happened or not. I just find the whole thing totally incredible. Incredible. There is no way the prime minister couldn’t have known.The Labour backbenchers are not yet of a mood to get rid of their prime minister, although after 7 May they just might be. Continue reading...
PM to give Commons statement on Monday, a day before sacked civil servant Olly Robbins tells his side of the storyThe next 48 hours will be crucial for Keir Starmer’s troubled premiership as he faces continuing calls to resign over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. On Monday, Starmer will give a statement to the House of Commons on the Guardian’s revelation that Mandelson was allowed to serve as US ambassador despite failing a vetting process run by security officials. On Tuesday, Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, who Starmer sacked on Thursday and is trying to blame for the row, will give his side of the story. Here are the key questions Starmer must answer. Continue reading...
Whitehall officials are weighing up ‘unprecedented’ disclosure of documents in security clearance scandalStarmer did not gamble with national security over Mandelson, says ministerMinisters are under growing pressure to share the documents from Peter Mandelson’s vetting process with the parliamentary committee tasked with deciding if they should be made public.In February, MPs passed a binding parliamentary motion, known as a humble address, requiring the government to publish “all papers” relating to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US. Continue reading...
Lord Simon McDonald, former head of the Foreign Office, has described the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal as the biggest crisis in the diplomatic service since 1982. He said Sir Olly Robbins was "basically thrown under the bus" and served as a "scalp" that Number 10 required quickly after the Guardian revealed Mandelson was appointed US ambassador despite failing vetting. Five major party leaders have now called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign over the scandal.
