Epstein row: UK’s Starmer faces calls to resign over report that Mandelson failed vetting
The ex-ambassador was cleared after a foreign ministry decision, and Starmer was unaware of the failed check, a spokesman says
Britain’s former US ambassador Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting before taking up the role, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer was unaware officials had overruled the recommendation, the government said on Thursday.
“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,” a government spokesman said in a statement.
The decision was taken by officials in the foreign ministry, the spokesperson added.
The disclosure of the vetting failure increases pressure on Starmer over his appointment of Mandelson, who is under police investigation for allegedly leaking government documents to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and led to renewed calls for him to resign.
Starmer has apologised for the appointment but defended his own actions, accusing Mandelson of creating a “litany of deceit” about his Epstein ties and promising to release documents on how he was appointed.
The Guardian newspaper had reported earlier on Thursday that the failed security check came after Mandelson’s appointment had been announced.