Peter Mandelson’s associations with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the UK’s vetting agency when it concluded he should be denied security clearance, multiple sources have told the Guardian.
Mandelson’s links to China’s finance minister, Lan Fo’an, the sanctions-hit Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and a former Israeli military intelligence general, Tamir Hayman, were all flagged by the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) agency shortly before he took up his post as the UK’s ambassador to the US, the sources said.
The vetting agency also noted a £1m loan Mandelson received to invest in an Israeli startup and that he appeared naive about the risk that historical relationships could be exploited. These concerns were contained in a nine-page UKSV summary in January 2025, which led to a recommendation that his developed vetting clearance be denied.
Despite this, the then Foreign Office permanent secretary, Olly Robbins, granted Mandelson security clearance. The disclosures have drawn criticism from MPs, with Labour’s Emily Thornberry saying she was “very angry” and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey accusing Keir Starmer of wilfully ignoring warning signs.
The Guardian’s revelations come after the Intelligence and Security Committee accused the government of withholding vetting documents and implementing redactions “far too broadly”. A second tranche of Mandelson files is expected to be released in June.
