UK’s Starmer under fire over report Mandelson failed security vetting

Gov’s spokesperson says Starmer had no knowledge of the Foreign Office overriding the security recommendation.United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under renewed pressure over UK media reports that former ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson failed security vetting but was cleared to take on the role by foreign ministry officials.A government spokesperson denied on Thursday that Starmer had any knowledge of the Foreign Office overriding the security recommendation regarding Mandelson, who was sacked in September after less than a year in the role over his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Mandelson tried to get Epstein’s ‘goddaughter’ access to 10 Downing Streetlist 2 of 3Blood tech: The UK ambassador, the sex offender, Palantir, and Gazalist 3 of 3New files show British PM warned of ‘reputational risks’ with Mandelsonend of listAfter UK newspaper The Guardian reported on Thursday that Mandelson had failed vetting, the government spokesperson said that neither Starmer nor any other government ministers had been aware of the decision, adding that the Foreign Office had granted him “developed vetting”.Citing multiple unnamed sources, the newspaper said the 72-year-old had initially been denied clearance in late January 2025 after a “highly confidential background check by security officials”, but that Starmer had already announced the appointment.Faced with a “dilemma”, the Foreign Office officials had proceeded to use “a rarely used authority to override the recommendation from security officials”, the newspaper said.Starmer has apologised for the appointment but insisted due process was followed, accusing Mandelson of creating a “litany of deceit” about his Epstein ties and promising to release documents on how he was appointed.Opposition leaders accused the prime minister of misleading Parliament and called for his resignation.