Starmer was kept in dark about Mandelson’s vetting by two other top civil servants
Summary
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was not informed for several months about Peter Mandelson failing a security vetting process before becoming UK ambassador to Washington. Senior civil servants, including cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo and Cabinet Office permanent secretary Catherine Little, delayed telling Starmer while they assessed the risks of sharing the sensitive information.Key Facts
- Peter Mandelson failed a UK security vetting process in January 2025 before his ambassador appointment.
- The Foreign Office granted Mandelson security clearance despite advice to deny it.
- Prime Minister Starmer was not told about the vetting failure until a few days before the news broke.
- Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Catherine Little knew of the failure by March 2025.
- Officials and lawyers spent weeks assessing how to share the sensitive information without harming national security.
- The UK Security Vetting (UKSV) agency recommended denying Mandelson clearance due to concerns.
- The delay in informing the prime minister raised questions about government transparency and control.
- Foreign Office Permanent Secretary Olly Robbins resigned after the controversy.
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