Starmer would have blocked Mandelson role over vetting failure, says Lammy
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David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, stated that Keir Starmer would have blocked Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to Washington if he had known Mandelson failed security vetting. Lammy expressed shock and surprise upon learning about the overruled decision to deny Mandelson clearance, insisting that neither he nor Starmer were informed of the vetting outcome. The controversy stems from the Foreign Office's decision to override the initial denial of security clearance for Mandelson, a decision former top civil servant Oliver Robbins apparently kept from Downing Street. Lammy acknowledged time pressures to confirm Mandelson's post as Donald Trump re-entered the White House. Starmer faces scrutiny from MPs and maintains he was unaware of the vetting failure, calling it "staggering" and "unforgivable."
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Key Claims (5)
AI-ExtractedThe Foreign Office overruled a decision to deny Mandelson security vetting clearance.
Oliver Robbins was forced out of the Foreign Office this week.
Keir Starmer would have blocked Peter Mandelson's ambassadorship if he knew about the failed security vetting.
Neither Lammy nor his advisers knew about the vetting process or its conclusions.
There were time pressures to confirm Mandelson's post as Trump was re-entering the White House.
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