Newly declassified documents reveal that Peter Mandelson, the UK's ambassador-designate to Washington, received sensitive security briefings from the Foreign Office and was in discussions with the head of MI6 before completing his developed vetting process. The documents, published on Monday, show that Mandelson and Richard Moore, the former chief of MI6, had agreed to meet in early January 2025, prior to Mandelson's departure for the United States.
Mandelson reportedly believed that, as a privy councillor and former cabinet minister, he could access secret documents without full security clearance. However, officials later decided that clearance was necessary. The documents also reveal internal Labour criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, including from Mandelson himself, who described Starmer as buckling under pressure and lacking verve.
The 1,500-page release, triggered by a humble address process, omitted information deemed prejudicial to national security or international relations. Notably absent were details on measures taken to mitigate serious security concerns, including Mandelson's associations with senior figures in China, Russia, and Israel, as well as a £1 million loan. A nine-page summary from UK Security Vetting was withheld after the Metropolitan Police requested its non-disclosure for potential future prosecution.
Mandelson also declined to hand over his personal phone or allow the publication of WhatsApp messages related to his appointment. The documents confirm that a meeting with the head of MI6 was agreed for January 15, 2025, while Mandelson was still undergoing vetting, which was not granted until two weeks later. Starmer has since expressed regret over appointing Mandelson, a decision that has unsettled Labour MPs and raised questions about the prime minister's judgment.
