Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hit out after saying he wasn’t made aware Lord Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting as he faces mounting pressure
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared he is “absolutely furious” after it was revealed he was kept in the dark about Lord Peter Mandelson failing top-level security vetting. Speaking from Paris, the PM branded the lapse “unforgivable” as he faces mounting calls to resign back in Britain.
The scandal erupted after it emerged that Mandelson was installed as Britain’s top man in Washington DC despite security spooks raising red Flags. The Foreign Office reportedly pushed the appointment through anyway, overriding the experts.
A defiant Starmer told reporters: “That I wasn’t told that he’d failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable.
“Not only was I not told, no minister was told and I’m absolutely furious about it.”
The PM is now expected to face a bear pit in the House of Commons on Monday as he plans to “set out the relevant facts” and explain how the UK’s national security was potentially put at risk.
Opposition leaders have wasted no time in sticking the boot in, with Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage and Ed Davey all demanding the PM’s head on a platter.
Tory chief Badenoch said: “The PM appointed Peter Mandelson before the vetting had been completed, vetting Mandelson failed. Starmer then said full due process was followed. That is misleading Parliament.”
Reform leader Farage didn’t mince his words either,saying: “Now we discover that he has blatantly lied, the Prime Minister should resign.”
Downing Street maintains that Starmer only found out about the vetting failure on Tuesday evening, following explosive allegations published by The Guardian.
A government spokesperson said: “The decision to grant Developed Vetting to Peter Mandelson against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting was taken by officials in the FCDO. Neither the PM, nor any Government minister, was aware… until earlier this week.”
Government sources say officials are now “trawling through documents” as they scramble to comply with demands to release all files linked to the appointment
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