Overview
- In a Commons statement on Monday, Keir Starmer said he would not have appointed Peter Mandelson had he been told that UK Security Vetting recommended denying him high‑level clearance.
- UKSV made that recommendation in January 2025 and senior Foreign Office officials overruled it to grant developed vetting, the top check that allows access to the most sensitive secrets.
- Starmer said he learned of the failed vetting last Tuesday during a document search ordered by MPs and he then removed the Foreign Office chief, Sir Olly Robbins.
- No 10 said the law does not stop civil servants from warning ministers about UKSV recommendations or high‑risk findings while protecting private details.
- Parliamentary scrutiny is ramping up, with Robbins due before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday and the Intelligence and Security Committee handling sensitive files, and Starmer has moved to suspend departmental overrides and to stop announcing appointments before checks finish.