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Labour has admitted Lord Peter Mandelson failed developed security vetting for the role of UK ambassador to the United States, but the Foreign Office overruled security services to push the appointment through. Sir Keir Starmer claims he and ministers were not aware until this week, triggering fresh accusations he misled Parliament and growing calls for his resignation.
Government Confirms Vetting Failure and Override
A Government spokesman confirmed the security vetting process for Mandelson was sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). He said: “Neither the Prime Minister, nor any Government Minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted Developed Vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week.”
Once informed, Starmer “immediately instructed officials to establish the facts” and update the House of Commons. The Government says it will comply with the Humble Address but will redact documents on national security grounds and provide them to the Intelligence and Security Committee.
Opposition Demands Starmer Resignation
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Starmer told Parliament three times that “full due process” was followed. She declared: “We now know the Prime Minister misled the House. The Prime Minister must take responsibility… unless he can prove all three wrong, he is definitely in resigning territory.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Keir Starmer had already made a catastrophic error of judgment. Now it looks as though he has also misled Parliament and lied to the British public. If that is the case, he must go.”
The Green Party has also called for Starmer’s resignation.
Labour MP Questions Whether Committee Was Misled
Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said there are “glaring holes” in the evidence given and letters written. She asked: “Who overrode these concerns? Why were we kept in the dark? People need to stop messing us about and tell us the truth.”
Reform UK: Biggest Scandal in a Century
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage demanded Starmer’s immediate resignation, posting: “Starmer blatantly lied to Parliament claiming clearance was given. The Prime Minister must resign.” Reform politicians branded it “the biggest scandal in British politics for over a century”.
- Mandelson failed developed vetting in January 2025
- Foreign Office overruled security services using rarely used power
- Starmer previously told Parliament “full due process” was followed
- Opposition leaders from all sides now calling for resignation
- Foreign Affairs Select Committee summoning Sir Oliver Robbins
Background: Mandelson’s Controversies
The disgraced peer was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and has faced sustained criticism over his links to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. A friend of Mandelson told GB News he had “no knowledge” of any vetting issues and no concerns were raised with him after the process.
What This Means for Britain
This latest scandal raises serious questions about standards at the heart of the Labour Government. Appointing someone who failed top-level security vetting to one of Britain’s most sensitive diplomatic posts is not just embarrassing — it risks national security at a time of heightened global threats.
The fact that the Foreign Office simply overruled the experts, combined with Starmer’s claim he only found out this week, has left many wondering who is really running the country. With the Prime Minister now facing accusations of misleading Parliament from multiple parties, public trust is collapsing fast.
Reform UK has consistently warned that Labour is mired in sleaze and poor judgment. Nigel Farage’s demand for Starmer’s resignation reflects the growing anger among voters who expect the highest standards of integrity from those in power. As local elections loom, this affair is likely to fuel further support for Reform’s call for a complete clean-up of British politics.
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This article is a factual summary of reporting by GB News. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.
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