Sir Philip Barton, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has testified that Sir Keir Starmer was aware of the potential risks concerning Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before his appointment as US ambassador. Barton informed the Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee that No 10 was 'uninterested' in the developed vetting (DV) process for Lord Mandelson, pushing for the appointment to be completed before Donald Trump’s inauguration.
No 10's Push for Fast Appointment
Sir Keir Starmer is currently urging Labour backbenchers to oppose a motion to refer him to the Privileges Committee over claims he misled the Commons regarding the handling of Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment. Sir Philip denied allegations that Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s former chief of staff, had sworn at him while pressing for a faster appointment process for Lord Mandelson.
Contradicting Government Claims
Contradicting government claims, Barton also stated that the normal procedure for ambassadorial appointments dictates that vetting should be completed before any public announcement is made. The former mandarin described the Epstein-Mandelson relationship as a 'toxic, hot potato' that posed significant risks to the government.
Barton’s testimony raises questions about the transparency and due diligence in the appointment process, highlighting tensions between the Foreign Office and Number 10 over the handling of sensitive vetting procedures.
