Badenoch accuses PM of misleading MPs over Mandelson vetting

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of misleading the House of Commons, after a report suggested Lord Mandelson failed his security vetting for the role of US ambassador.

The Guardian newspaper reported that the Foreign Office overruled the vetting decision to ensure the peer could take up the post.

Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador last year over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The government and Lord Mandelson have been approached for comment.

During Prime Minister's Questions on 10 September 2025, Sir Keir Starmer said three times that "full due process" was followed for the appointment.

In response to the Guardian report, Badenoch pointed to his comments last September, adding: "We now know the prime minister misled the House.

"The prime minister must take responsibility."

The Ministerial Code states that ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign.

The Guardian said it was not known whether the PM was made aware Lord Mandelson had not been given security clearance by the vetting agency which carried out the checks, or who in the Foreign Office had made the decision to overrule this.

According to the Guardian, Lord Mandelson was initially denied clearance in late January 2025 after a developed vetting process.

The peer had already been announced as the UK's ambassador to the US in December 2024.

The developed vetting process is carried out by United Kingdom Security Vetting, a specialist agency within the Cabinet Office, and is designed to make sure individuals are unlikely to abuse their access to secret material, or be subject to blackmail or bribery.

It includes checks on a candidates' credit history and criminal record.

Those being vetted also have to undertake an interview with a specially trained vetting officer, which can cover areas including candidates' health, friendships, family and sexual history.

The government has already released documents related to an earlier due diligence check carried out by a team at the Cabinet Office, which was sent to the prime minister on 11 December 2024.

The advice - which is largely based on public information such as media reports - warned that Lord Mandelson's relationship with Epstein posed a "reputation risk".

Further documents are due to be released.

However, the Guardian reported that senior government officials have been considering whether to withhold documents from Parliament revealing Lord Mandelson was not given vetting approval from security officials.