Sir Keir Starmer faced intense questioning in the House of Commons on Thursday after a Guardian investigation revealed that the Foreign Office overruled a decision to deny Peter Mandelson security clearance for his role as US ambassador. The top civil servant at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Sir Olly Robbins, has been forced out over the affair.
The investigation, based on multiple sources, disclosed that Mandelson had failed a developed vetting process in January 2025. Despite this, FCDO officials used a rarely invoked authority to override the recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV), a Cabinet Office division responsible for background checks. Downing Street insisted that neither the prime minister nor any government minister was aware of the overruling until earlier this week.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that if Starmer had misled Parliament over the vetting, he must take responsibility. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called for the prime minister to resign if he had misled the public. Starmer had previously stated that Mandelson had received clearance for the role.
The Guardian also revealed that senior government officials have been considering whether to withhold documents from Parliament that would show Mandelson was denied vetting approval. Any such move could breach a parliamentary motion demanding the release of all papers related to Mandelson’s appointment. The Cabinet Office has not yet made a final decision.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the government was committed to complying with the parliamentary motion, but any redactions for national security reasons would be provided to the Intelligence and Security Committee. The spokesperson added that Starmer was “furious” about being kept in the dark and had instructed officials to establish the facts.
