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Sir Keir Starmer has publicly accused officials within the Foreign Office of intentionally withholding critical information regarding Lord Mandelson’s failure to pass the initial security vetting for the post of UK ambassador to the United States. Speaking to Members of Parliament, the prime minister admitted that had he been made aware of these vetting issues earlier, he would not have proceeded with the appointment. It emerged that the Foreign Office disregarded the security vetting agency’s recommendation against clearance and cleared Lord Mandelson for the role despite concerns.
The announcement naming Lord Mandelson as ambassador was made in December 2024 before the comprehensive vetting process had been completed. Although he officially assumed the position on 10 February 2025, Lord Mandelson was dismissed just seven months later due to revelations about his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The vetting process, conducted by UK Security Vetting—a Cabinet Office agency—began in late December 2024, culminating in a recommendation issued on 28 January 2025 that Lord Mandelson should be denied Developed Vetting clearance. Despite this, Foreign Office officials chose to override the agency’s advice and grant the necessary clearance.
Sir Keir expressed frustration that several opportunities to inform him about the vetting failure had been missed. He highlighted that key moments such as Lord Mandelson’s initial appointment, his subsequent sacking, and the prime minister’s own review of the vetting procedures all lacked transparency. The prime minister also pointed out that the then head of the Civil Service, Sir Chris Wormald, was not briefed during a review of the appointment process the previous September, a situation he described as “astonishing.” Additionally, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was not informed when she answered parliamentary questions regarding the appointment last year; Sir Keir deemed this omission “absolutely unforgivable.” He stated unequivocally that information had been deliberately withheld from him on multiple occasions, not due to oversight but as a conscious decision.
The fallout has been significant. Sir Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant, was effectively dismissed following revelations that his department overruled vetting advice. While Sir Keir did not initially identify Sir Olly by name, he indicated that the senior official claimed he was “not allowed to provide this information” to the prime minister. Supporters of Sir Olly argue that confidentiality rules surrounding the highly personal nature of vetting data restricted what could be disclosed. Sir Olly is due to testify before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee shortly. Parliament will also discuss the matter further following a call for an emergency debate by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who sharply criticized Sir Keir for avoiding accountability and accused him of misleading Parliament. The controversy continues to cast a shadow over the government, with opposition parties calling for Sir Keir to resign following what they describe as a severe lapse in judgment and transparency
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