Sir Keir Starmer has directed the Foreign Office to provide details regarding the approval process for Lord Peter Mandelson to serve as the UK ambassador to the US, following revelations that the department had overridden a security clearance decision.
The Prime Minister was reportedly unaware that the former prominent Labour figure had been granted vetting clearance against the advice of UK Security Vetting until recently. In response, he immediately tasked officials with investigating the circumstances surrounding the approval process, prompting the Foreign Office to expedite their review.
Sources from Downing Street have indicated that the Prime Minister is deeply displeased with the situation. The scrutiny comes after reports from The Guardian suggested that security officials had initially rejected granting clearance to Lord Mandelson. However, the Foreign Office intervened, overriding the decision after the Prime Minister had already announced his appointment as the UK’s top diplomat in the US.
Sir Keir has maintained that the appointment adhered to due process and emphasized that Lord Mandelson had misrepresented his connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted pedophile financier. Despite claims that security services independently cleared Lord Mandelson for the role, it was reported by The Guardian that he did not receive approval from the Cabinet Office’s UK Security Vetting last January.
A spokesperson for the government disclosed that the decision to grant vetting clearance to Peter Mandelson against recommendations was made by Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) officials. Upon being informed, the Prime Minister immediately instructed officials to investigate the circumstances leading to the clearance, with plans to update the House of Commons.
Although reports suggest that a statement may be made to MPs on Monday, No 10 has not confirmed this. Meanwhile, Sir Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has been summoned to appear before Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to provide further clarification on the matter.
Dame Emily Thornberry, a senior Labour MP and committee chair, has raised questions about the decision-making process, calling for transparency regarding the sources of influence guiding the clearance approval. She highlighted the nuanced language in correspondence from Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper regarding the vetting process, underscoring the need for a complete account of the events.
Amid mounting pressure, Sir Keir has faced calls to resign over the handling of Lord Mandelson’s appointment. Criticism from Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders has underscored concerns about transparency and accountability in governmental decision-making processes.
Lord Mandelson, a political appointee rather than a career diplomat, was dismissed from his Washington position in September following revelations about his association with Epstein. The controversy surrounding his appointment has raised doubts about Sir Keir’s judgment, particularly in light of prior warnings about potential reputational risks.
As the debate unfolds, further documents related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment are awaited, shedding light on the sequence of events leading to his clearance. The ongoing scrutiny has also prompted calls for reforms to the vetting procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.