15 resultsfor “Mandelson security vetting documents withheld”
security vetting clearance](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/16/revealed-mandelson-failed-vetting-but-foreign-office-overruled-decision).  The Metropolitan police asked that emails between Morgan McSweeney (pictured) and Mandelson be withheld. Photograph: GLOBSEC/Getty Images The latest documents
withheld" from MPs, the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has said. Lord Beamish, chair of the committee tasked with reviewing the documents, said Lord Mandelson's vetting
documents being withheld was “a vetting file held by UK Security Vetting” (UKSV), the agency that in January 2025 recommended Mandelson
documents about Mandelson’s vetting by UK Security Vetting (UKSV) and the Foreign Office’s decision to override it. The ultimate decision will rest with the Cabinet Office. But sources said officials were split over
vetting and appointment are set to be released imminently. They were initially withheld on the orders of the Metropolitan Police, which is investigating Lord Mandelson for potential criminal activity. The documents also need
withheld at the request of the [Metropolitan police](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/metropolitan-police) on the grounds that they could “potentially prejudice” an investigation. They include a document summarising the vetting process, which concluded with officials recommending Mandelson
documents do not disclose that Mandelson failed security vetting. --- **Why does it matter beyond Starmer?** “If you believe Downing Street, no politician was told – not [David Lammy as foreign secretary](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/18/starmer-would-have-blocked-mandelson-role-over-vetting-failure-says-lammy),
security committee (ISC) publicly accused the government of withholding some Mandelson vetting documents and implementing redactions “far too broadly”. During a debate in parliament last week, MPs from across the political divide [criticised](https://www.theguardian.com
security concerns over his contacts with overseas governments. Nor do they give any detail about why vetting officials initially recommended he be denied clearance. The document making it clear that there were concerns with Mandelson
vetting failures could partly be blamed for Mandelson’s appointment. Amid an impasse among officials, some in government are said to have argued that precedent should be set aside to disclose the UKSV documents
withheld because of a police investigation into Mandelson for misconduct in public office. Jones has said the documents will be published when the police deem it is no longer prejudicial to their inquiry. The prime
security and international relations. Under pressure from MPs on all sides, the government accepted those redactions should be agreed by the ISC. But the committee’s unusually critical statement on Friday accused ministers
Mandelson was sacked as ambassador last year after the emergence of new revelations about the extent of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In February, MPs voted to force the government
vetting process as quickly as possible, amid what one official describes as "quite a bit of senior interest" in how quickly the case was progressing. There are details of diplomatic steps taken to win over
withheld Mandelson vetting result from me, Starmer says Sir Keir Starmer has accused officials in the Foreign Office of deliberately and repeatedly withholding the fact Lord Mandelson initially failed security vetting for the role