Peter Mandelson was not granted clearance by UK Security Vetting (UKSV) before being named as the UK’s Ambassador to Washington, according to an investigation by The Guardian
Peter Mandelson was appointed US Ambassador despite failing his security vetting clearance, it has been sensationally claimed.
The disgraced former peer was denied clearance in January last year after a thorough check by security officials, according to The Guardian. The newspaper reports that the UK Security Vetting (UKSV) – which oversees high-profile and sensitive appointments – refused to grant him clearance in the pre-appointment process.
It is reported that this rejection came after Keir Starmer had announced Lord Mandelson was to be the UK’s ‘Trump whisperer’. The Foreign Office stepped in to override the UKSV decision, it is claimed – an extremely rare occurrence. It is unclear if the Prime Minister was informed, but will pile further pressure on Mr Starmer as he faces scrutiny over the appointment.
The then-Labour peer was sacked in September last year after emails were published, throwing new light on his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The day before Mandelson’s sacking, on September 11, the PM told the Commons at PMQs, in response to a question by Kemi Badenoch: “As the right hon. Lady and the House would expect, full due process was followed during this appointment, as it is with all ambassadors.”
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The Government has committed to releasing documents relating to the controversial political appointment, and has so far released 147 pages of files. More are due to follow.
The Guardian claims that senior officials within the Government have been weighing up witholding documents which reveal Mandelson was not given vetting approval.
Documents are being released to the Intelligence and Community Committee after MPs backed a motion demanded all papers relating to Mandelson’s appointment were handed over.
The peer – who resigned from the House of Lords earlier this year – took up the role in February 2025, but lasted just seven months. In January more documents were released from the US Department of Justice’s Epstein files, including emails suggesting he leaked sensitive information to the billionaire financier.
Mandelson was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and remains on bail.
At the time of his appointment David Lammy was Foreign Secretary and Sir Olly Robbins was the top civil service in the Foreign Office. Mr Starmer’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, quit in February over his role in the process.
Days earlier Mr Starmer had said at a press conference in Hastings: “There was a due diligence exercise that culminated in questions being asked… the answers to those questions were not truthful.
“There was then security vetting carried out independently by the security services… which gave him clearance for the role. Clearly, both the due diligence and the security vetting need to be looked at again.”
In a letter to the foreign affairs committee in September, current Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Sir Olly wrote: “The vetting process was undertaken by UK Security Vetting on behalf of the FCDO and concluded with DV clearance being granted by the FCDO in advance of Lord Mandelson taking up post in February.”
The letter made no mention of Mandelson failing UKSV’s vetting process. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch posted on X: “Last September, Keir Starmer told Parliament three times that `full due process’ was followed over the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
“We now know the Prime Minister misled the House. The Prime Minister must take responsibility.”
The Mirror has contacted No10, the Foreign Office, the Cabinet Office and Lord Mandelson’s representatives for comment.