British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said he was “furious” over a security lapse that led to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States, despite concerns raised during the vetting process.
The controversy resurfaced following a report by The Guardian, which claimed that Mandelson had failed mandatory security checks. Despite this, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office reportedly overruled the findings and cleared his appointment last year.
Reacting to the revelations, Starmer said he had not been informed about the failed vetting at the time of the appointment. “That I wasn’t told… is staggering… and unforgivable,” he said, adding that no minister had been made aware of the issue. He said he would address Parliament to present full details.
The government has placed responsibility on officials within the Foreign Office, with senior civil servant Olly Robbins being dismissed over the lapse.
Opposition leaders, however, have questioned the Prime Minister’s account. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said it was “simply not possible” that Starmer was unaware of the failed vetting, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey accused him of showing “catastrophically poor judgement.”
The issue has also drawn scrutiny from Parliament, with the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee summoning Robbins for questioning.
Mandelson was later removed from his diplomatic role after links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came under renewed scrutiny. Though he denied wrongdoing, his appointment and subsequent dismissal have continued to generate political fallout for the government.
