Naming Mandelson as ambassador before vetting was mistake, minister says

It was a mistake to announce Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US before he was security vetted for the role, one of Keir Starmer’s senior ministers has said before the prime minister’s statement to MPs about the scandal.

With Starmer aiming to explain to the Commons on Monday afternoon why he did not know the Foreign Office had overruled a decision to refuse Mandelson vetting, some senior government figures believe the coming week could decide whether or not he remains in No 10.

Douglas Alexander, the Scotland secretary, sent out by Downing Street on the Monday morning broadcast round, said when asked if Starmer would lead Labour into the next election: “I expect so.”

He added: “Yes, I think he will. There are no certainties. But of course I think he will lead, and I think he should.”

Questioned by Sky News as to why Mandelson was publicly named as ambassador before vetting had happened, particularly when many controversies about him were already known, Alexander said this was in part because of an existing protocol for such political appointments. This would most likely now change, he said.

“It is possible that as well as the error in terms of the appointment of Peter Mandelson, there are significant lessons that need to be learned on process,” he said. “One of those lessons that’s already been learned is the need to make sure that this deep vetting is undertaken prior to the appointment and announcement of the ambassadors.”

The established process “in retrospect was inadequate”, he said. “That’s why, already, even before the events of the last few days, the government has moved to change that process to make sure that vetting precedes appointment.”

Alexander defended Starmer’s decision on Thursday to remove Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, after the Guardian revealed that Robbins’ department had not passed on the fact that Mandelson initially failed vetting.

Writing in the Times on Monday, Gus O’Donnell, the former head of the civil service, said Starmer and his ministers had unfairly blamed Robbins and did not appear to understand how vetting worked.