Keir Starmer has expressed his astonishment and disappointment at not being informed that Peter Mandelson had not passed security vetting prior to his appointment as the US ambassador. Starmer characterized the situation as both “staggering” and “unforgivable.” These remarks come in light of a recent investigation by the Guardian, which disclosed that Mandelson was initially denied security clearance following a thorough background check conducted by security personnel. However, this determination was subsequently overturned by officials at the Foreign Office.

Lucy Hough engages with Paul Lewis, the head of investigations at the Guardian, for further insights on this matter.