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Starmer sees off Tory calls for inquiry into Mandelson role after No 10 flexes muscle

Peter Mandelson’s appointment after Downing Street deployed its full weight to force Labour MPs to shore up the prime minister. However, the [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) leader bore the brunt of anger from some

Top Foreign Office official ‘felt pressure’ for ‘rapid outcome’ on Mandelson vetting

Peter Mandelson’s vetting clearance “felt pressure to deliver a rapid outcome” because of contacts from Downing Street, MPs have been told. In testimony relayed to parliament via the Foreign Office (FCDO), [Ian Collard

Officials deliberately withheld Mandelson vetting result from me, Starmer says

ambassador to the US in December 2024, before in-depth vetting had been carried out. He formally took up the role on 10 February 2025 but was sacked just seven months later over his ties

Pressure on Starmer amid Mandelson revelations as Foreign Office official forced out – UK politics live

role in the Cabinet Office, immediately last night, I suspended the rights for these organisations to make these judgments. > > I’ve asked for an urgent review about what decisions these organisations have taken

McSweeney denies bullying civil servants into appointing Mandelson

Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the UK, before an evidence hearing with MPs next week. Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff resigned in February over his role in the hiring of Mandelson

Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s former chief of staff, to be questioned by MPs

Peter Mandelson vetting row continued to undermine Keir Starmer’s premiership. As MPs attempt to unravel the facts, McSweeney is to appear next Tuesday to respond to allegations that Downing Street put huge pressure

PM won't face inquiry over claims he misled MPs on Mandelson vetting

Mandelson as US ambassador. The House of Commons voted 335 to 223 against a Conservative-led motion which sought to trigger the inquiry. Some Labour MPs on the left of the party said

Keir Starmer says it is unforgivable he was not told Mandelson failed vetting

ambassador to Washington. The prime minister said he was “furious” about what had happened, as he insisted he had not known that security officials had initially recommended that Mandelson be denied clearance. Speaking on Friday

Starmer accuses Robbins of obstructing truth about Mandelson vetting

ambassador – but was ignored. Robbins overturned the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKVS) decision to fail Mandelson just 24 hours later, giving little time for any potential mitigations to be put in place. The Foreign Office

What is Developed Vetting security clearance at centre of Mandelson row?

Peter Mandelson was granted a security clearance by the Foreign Office against the recommendation of the government's vetting agency when he was made US ambassador. The government is under intense pressure to explain

Senior official ousted over Mandelson security row to face MPs

Peter Mandelson was granted a security clearance despite concerns raised during the vetting process is expected to face questions from MPs on Tuesday. Sir Olly Robbins will be grilled by the Foreign Affairs Committee over

Labour figures criticise calls for inquiry into PM's Mandelson claims

vetting process was rushed. Speaking on Monday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said there was "still a lot of information that doesn't add up". "What I'm seeing is a prime minister who is saying

Olly Robbins’ account of Mandelson vetting piles pressure on Starmer

Peter Mandelson as Washington ambassador despite the concerns of vetting officials. Olly Robbins, the former top official at the Foreign Office, said No 10 took a “dismissive” attitude to vetting, and Mandelson was given access

Olly Robbins and Mandelson’s vetting: what did he do, why – and who knew?

Peter Mandelson had been removed from his post as ambassador to the US two months earlier, after the disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein’s emails. MPs on the cross-party foreign affairs select committee were grilling

Starmer should face Commons inquiry over Mandelson vetting, says Ed Davey

ambassador to Washington, Ed Davey has said. The Liberal Democrat leader called for the prime minister to be investigated by the privileges committee to determine whether he committed contempt of parliament, an offence that

UK’s new ambassador to US said Starmer had been ‘on the ropes’ over Mandelson scandal

Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/peter-mandelson) scandal and said it is Israel rather than Britain that has a “special relationship” with the White House. Christian Turner, who took office in February to replace Mandelson

Former Labour MP calls for Starmer to face Commons committee over Mandelson vetting

Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/peter-mandelson) as ambassador to Washington continues. Karl Turner, who lost the [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) whip last month [after making a series of interventions](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/31/karl-turner-labour-whip-suspended) criticising Starmer

Lucy Powell says Labour has ‘no magic bullet’ as MPs brace for heavy losses in local elections

vetting scandal, but said the prime minister would not make a similar mistake again. Powell, who called for Keir Starmer to be more explicitly progressive during her deputy leadership campaign, said she would not engage

‘Self-serving stuff’: anger remains high in Whitehall over Olly Robbins sacking

ambassador [Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/peter-mandelson) had not passed UK security vetting. There is strong support for Robbins within Whitehall, with senior civil servants said to believe he was in effect sacked for doing what