Summary
Downing Street stated that Prime Minister Starmer did not know until this week that Peter Mandelson had failed the UK security vetting process. Officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) overruled the vetting advice and granted Mandelson Developed Vetting clearance without ministers’ knowledge.
Key Facts
- Peter Mandelson failed the UK security vetting process.
- The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office sponsored Mandelson’s vetting.
- Officials in the FCDO granted Developed Vetting clearance despite UK Security Vetting’s negative advice.
- Neither Prime Minister Starmer nor other government ministers knew about this until this week.
- Once informed, Starmer ordered officials to investigate why the clearance was granted.
- An independent investigation into whether Starmer misled the public and MPs is being requested.
- Several political leaders and parties are calling for Starmer’s resignation over the issue.
- The government plans to comply fully with parliamentary requests for documents related to the vetting decision.
