The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has accused the government of failing to comply with parliament's will by withholding key documents related to Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. In a statement, the committee said it had not been provided with all relevant files, notably a vetting file held by UK Security Vetting (UKSV), which recommended denying Mandelson security clearance in January 2025.
Under a humble address passed by parliament in February, the government was required to release 'all papers' pertaining to Mandelson's appointment, with only redactions for national security or international relations, subject to ISC review. The committee said it had completed its review but that 'certain documents are being withheld', including the UKSV file. It added that the terms of the humble address do not allow for any documents to be withheld from parliament, and that 'government does not currently have the authority to do so'.
The Foreign Office's former permanent secretary, Olly Robbins, granted Mandelson developed vetting status the day after UKSV's denial, despite not having seen the file. Robbins, sacked by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, told MPs he relied on an oral briefing from an official who also had not seen it. The ISC's statement criticised the 'extraordinary' amount of government business conducted outside official systems, such as WhatsApp, and noted a lack of audit trails in the Foreign Office.
The committee also condemned the government's approach to redacting documents, saying it was applying redactions 'far too broadly' beyond the grounds allowed by the humble address, including removing personal data and commercially sensitive information. It warned that no body had been commissioned to review these additional redactions and that the government should seek fresh parliamentary permission.
