No way Lammy wasn’t told Mandelson failed vetting, says former foreign secretary

A growing controversy has erupted over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the United States after it emerged he failed the required security vetting process. Former foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly described it as “inconceivable” that senior figures such as Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy were not informed of the vetting failure. The scandal has intensified accusations that Starmer scapegoated Sir Olly Robbins, the recently sacked permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, to deflect blame from himself. Starmer has insisted he only learned of Mandelson’s vetting failure last week and expressed outrage that Downing Street and ministers were kept in the dark. Lammy also denied prior knowledge but stated the prime minister would have blocked Mandelson’s appointment had he been aware of the security concerns. Meanwhile, former civil servants and diplomats have questioned the prime minister’s account, suggesting Robbins was unfairly sacrificed to protect Starmer’s leadership. Simon McDonald, a former permanent secretary, described the situation as the biggest crisis in the diplomatic service in decades and criticized the handling of the matter. The controversy has sparked calls for Starmer’s resignation from political opponents, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch, who labeled him “unfit to govern.” Sir Olly Robbins is expected to defend his role in approving Mandelson’s appointment during an upcoming Foreign Affairs Select Committee hearing, which has been dubbed “judgement day” for the prime minister. Observers anticipate Robbins will argue that the decision was ultimately ministerial, highlighting the complex interplay between civil service advice and political authority. This episode raises significant questions about transparency, accountability, and the vetting process for high-profile diplomatic appointments. It also exposes tensions within the Labour leadership and the Foreign Office, with potential implications for the government’s credibility on national security and governance standards. The unfolding inquiry will be closely watched as it tests the resilience of Starmer’s administration amid mounting political pressure.