Two senior aides to Prime Minister Keir Starmer learned of the Peter Mandelson security vetting controversy weeks before he did, raising fresh doubts about his control over the government.
Senior Officials Aware Last Month
Dame Antonia Romeo, the nation’s top civil servant, and Cat Little, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, discovered last month that Mandelson received approval as US ambassador despite objections from security officials. A document from UK Security Vetting, prepared in early 2025, highlighted serious concerns and recommended denying him clearance for the role.
The aides discussed the risks of disclosure, sought legal advice on potential impacts to the Metropolitan Police’s ongoing criminal investigation into Mandelson, and questioned the Foreign Office’s decision to override the vetting advice. Up to a dozen officials and lawyers were informed, yet the Prime Minister remained in the dark until Tuesday.
Starmer’s Reaction and Sacking
Starmer expressed fury upon learning that the Foreign Office had overruled the vetting process without informing him or any minister. He promptly dismissed Sir Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office’s most senior official. Allies of Robbins maintain he followed protocol by keeping sensitive vetting details confidential, insisting no grounds existed for his removal.
Speaking from Paris during a summit on the Iran crisis, Starmer stated: “That I wasn’t told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering. That I wasn’t told that he had failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable. Not only was I not told, no minister was told, and I’m absolutely furious about that.”
A No 10 spokesman confirmed repeated inquiries to the Foreign Office yielded no mention of the red flags. Ministers were also unaware the department could override security recommendations.
Political Pressure Mounts
Senior Conservative MP Alex Burghart declared: “This is yet more evidence that Keir Starmer’s Government is a shambles. If it’s really true Starmer didn’t know about Mandelson’s vetting failures when senior officials had the truth, it confirms the PM is in office but not in power. Either everyone is lying, or this is the most shambolic government in history – or both. It’s time for Starmer to go.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch echoed the sentiment: “That this is a national disgrace, the buck stops with him and the only decent response is to resign.”
Upcoming Scrutiny and Public Opinion
Starmer faces a challenging week, including a Commons appearance on Monday to address the saga. Sir Olly Robbins will testify before the foreign affairs committee the next day.
A YouGov poll reveals only 16 percent of Britons view the Prime Minister as honest regarding the ambassadorship decision, with 53 percent disagreeing.
Ciaran Martin, former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, commented: “I simply cannot comprehend the basis of this decision. There is no abuse of process. There’s no failure of process. Not only is there no duty to disclose the details of a vetting case, there is a duty not to disclose them.”
A Cabinet Office spokesman noted: “As part of the Government’s commitment to comply fully with the Humble Address, the Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office requested the vetting summary document. Once she received this document, the Cabinet Office immediately undertook a series of expedited checks in order to be in a sound position to share the document, or the fact of it. As soon as these checks were conducted, the Prime Minister was informed.”
