UK Foreign Secretary concerned over delayed ministerial briefing on Mandelson vetting
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has expressed extreme concern that ministers were not informed sooner about security vetting issues related to Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.The delay in communication has raised questions about the handling of the vetting process within the Foreign Office and the flow of information to ministers.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to resign from opposition parties amid the political fallout and is due to answer questions in Parliament on Monday.The Foreign Office's top civil servant, Sir Olly Robbins, was sacked last week over the matter and is expected to appear before the Foreign Affairs... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Apr 2026 05:30 LONDON
Senior UK Foreign Office official leaves post after Mandelson vetting controversy
The most senior official at the UK Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins, is leaving his post following a controversy over the security vetting of Lord Mandelson for the role of ambassador to the United States.Robbins effectively lost his position after the Foreign Office overruled the vetting agency's recommendation to fail Mandelson.Lord Mandelson was appointed as the UK's ambassador to the US in December 2024 before completing the required security vetting, which he ultimately failed.Despite this, the Foreign Office allowed him to assume the role in February 2025.Mandelson was dismissed from the ambassadorial post seven months later due to revelations about... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Apr 2026 23:03 LONDON
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Faces Criticism Over Security Vetting Override for Peter Mandelson
The United Kingdom is witnessing political controversy after reports emerged that Peter Mandelson, appointed as ambassador to the United States, was granted high-level security clearance despite failing the official vetting process.Government sources confirmed that the Foreign Office overruled security officials who had initially denied Mandelson clearance following a confidential background check in January 2025.Mandelson was sacked from his ambassadorial role in September 2025 after less than a year in office, amid revelations of his links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Police have also opened an investigation into allegations of misconduct in office by Mandelson.This controversy matters as it... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Apr 2026 18:31 LONDON
