Starmer tells MPs Foreign Office has been stripped of power to overrule vetting
Summary
Keir Starmer told the UK Parliament that the Foreign Office lost the power to overrule security vetting decisions after a scandal involving Peter Mandelson’s ambassador appointment. Starmer admitted he made a mistake appointing Mandelson, who was initially denied security clearance, and revealed that important vetting information was withheld from ministers.Key Facts
- Peter Mandelson was appointed ambassador to Washington despite initially being refused security clearance.
- The Foreign Office chose to overrule the vetting decision, a power no other department has.
- This overruling power has been suspended by the Prime Minister’s office after the scandal.
- Starmer said he would not have appointed Mandelson if he had known about the denied vetting.
- The Foreign Office did not inform senior ministers or the head of the civil service about the vetting refusal.
- An internal review stated that normal vetting procedures were followed, but key details were still kept secret.
- The vetting process for political appointments was changed to require vetting before an announcement.
- The Foreign Office’s top civil servant, Olly Robbins, was removed from his position following the controversy.
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