Overview
- The Guardian reported Thursday that the Foreign Office cleared Peter Mandelson in January 2025 despite a negative security vetting finding.
- Downing Street confirmed officials went against the vetting advice and said neither the prime minister nor any minister learned that fact until this week.
- Hours after the Thursday reports, Keir Starmer removed Olly Robbins, the top civil servant running the Foreign Office.
- Opposition leaders Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey urged Starmer to resign, accusing him of endangering national security or misleading Parliament about the appointment.
- The government pledged to publish more papers on the appointment after March documents showed Starmer was warned of reputational risk, while police continue a probe launched in February after U.S. Justice Department files suggested Mandelson shared market‑sensitive information years earlier.