Mandelson papers being withheld, says intelligence watchdog
Summary
Some papers about Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the US are being kept from Members of Parliament (MPs), according to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC). The government has been asked to publish these documents within 28 sitting days but has withheld some files and heavily redacted others, raising concerns about transparency.Key Facts
- The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) reviewed 337 documents related to Lord Mandelson's appointment.
- Some documents, including Mandelson's vetting file, are being withheld from MPs without their approval.
- UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommended against clearing Lord Mandelson for the ambassador role, but the Foreign Office approved him anyway.
- The government redacted information widely, including personal details and legal information, beyond what Parliament allows.
- MPs voted to force the government to publish all papers through a process called a humble address.
- The government initially opposed full publication due to national security and diplomatic concerns but agreed to the ISC review as a compromise.
- The ISC criticized the government for conducting business on unofficial channels like WhatsApp, which lacks proper record keeping.
- The Cabinet Office says it is working to publish as much material as possible while protecting national security.
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