Keir Starmer 'not aware' Foreign Office overruled Lord Mandelson vetting process until this week

Sir Keir Starmer was not aware that the Foreign Office overruled a security vetting process for Lord Peter Mandelson to become UK ambassador to Washington “until earlier this week”, the Government has said.

It comes after The Guardian reported that security officials initially denied Lord Mandelson clearance, but the Prime Minister had already named him as Britain’s top diplomat in the US, and the Foreign Office took the rare step of overruling the recommendation.

Sir Keir has previously insisted due process was followed in the appointment, and that Lord Mandelson had lied about the extent of his links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

A government spokesperson said: “The security vetting process for Peter Mandelson was sponsored by the FCDO.

“The decision to grant developed vetting to Peter Mandelson against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting was taken by officials in the FCDO.

“Neither the Prime Minister, nor any government minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted developed vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week.

“Once the Prime Minister was informed he immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why the developed vetting was granted, in order to enact plans to update the House of Commons.”

They said the Government is committed to complying with the parliamentary motion to disclose documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment “in full as soon as possible”.

Documents to be provided to the parliamentary intelligence and security committee (ISC) as part of the disclosure will include documents provided to the FCDO by UK Security Vetting, the spokesperson said.