Top Foreign Office official ‘felt pressure’ for ‘rapid outcome’ on Mandelson vetting
Summary
A senior official at the UK Foreign Office said he felt pressure to quickly complete security checks on Peter Mandelson before Mandelson was appointed British ambassador to Washington. Despite the security agency recommending against granting Mandelson clearance, the Foreign Office approved it, leading to controversy and the dismissal of a senior official, Olly Robbins.Key Facts
- Ian Collard, a top Foreign Office security official, said he felt pressure to complete Mandelson’s vetting quickly.
- The UK Security Vetting agency recommended denying clearance for Mandelson in January 2025.
- Mandelson was still granted "developed vetting" clearance and took up the ambassador role.
- Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office’s permanent secretary, was dismissed recently after the issue became public.
- The vetting assessment marked Mandelson as a “high concern” and a “borderline case.”
- Collard only saw the full vetting report after Mandelson left the post in September 2025.
- Downing Street said any pressure was about timing, not approval of the clearance itself.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer said no pressure was applied, but opposition MPs question this claim.
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