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Partygate v Mandelson: Keir Starmer faces attack from his own playbook

Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/20/appointment-peter-mandelson-new-uk-ambassador-to-us-divides-labour-mps), a Labour peer and veteran of successive governments, as ambassador in Washington. Politicians are rarely appointed to UK diplomatic posts and the decision was controversial

Top Cabinet Office official to give evidence to MPs about Peter Mandelson’s vetting – UK politics live

Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/peter-mandelson) vetting controversy. The Little hearing is unlikely to be as revelatory as the Olly Robbins session on Tuesday. But Little is a key figure in this story, for two reasons

Ministers urged to share Mandelson vetting files with intelligence committee

appointment as ambassador to the US. The motion made an exemption for documents “prejudicial to UK national security or international relations”, which would be given to the Intelligence and Security Committee, a trusted nine-person

Naming Mandelson as ambassador before vetting was mistake, minister says

Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/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

Starmer says ‘vast majority’ of Labour still supports him, despite Mandelson controversy – UK politics live

controversy – UK politics live Good morning and welcome to today’s live coverage of UK politics. Despite several calls for his resignation from within his own party, **Keir Starmer** told [the Sunday Times](https://www.thetimes.com

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

Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/peter-mandelson) as 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

Starmer accused of 'skulking' and shunning Sarwar in Scotland

controversy. "He still has monumental questions to answer in the House of Commons about what he knew about [Peter Mandelson's vetting situation](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kryzd8l7no). "If he has misled Parliament, he should resign." Gillian

Starmer was kept in dark about Mandelson’s vetting by two top civil servants

controversy was an extraordinary summary document produced by UKSV on 28 January last year – weeks after Starmer had announced Mandelson would be his ambassador to Washington. The document identified highly sensitive concerns UKSV had about

Mandelson scandal is biggest crisis for diplomatic service in decades, says ex-Foreign Office chief

Peter Mandelson [failed his security vetting](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/17/keir-starmer-kept-in-dark-peter-mandelson-vetting-two-top-civil-servants) in January 2025, during the process to appoint him as ambassador the US. Robbins is said to have known about Mandelson’s failure to pass

‘Starmer’s referendum’: How local elections could expose a fractured UK

controversies. Labour is also facing pressure from parties at either end of the spectrum. The hard-right Reform UK is surging while the Green Party is gaining ground on the left. In Wales, the Welsh

Ex-FCDO chief tells MPs he had concerns over Mandelson’s Epstein links

Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffery Epstein – and said there was “absolutely” pressure from Downing Street over the pace of vetting. Giving evidence to the foreign affairs select committee, the former Foreign Office permanent secretary

Officials debate withholding Mandelson vetting documents from parliament

Peter Mandelson had [failed security vetting](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/16/revealed-mandelson-failed-vetting-but-foreign-office-overruled-decision) before he assumed the role of US ambassador, the Guardian can reveal. Any such decision could amount to an extraordinary breach of a parliamentary vote which