UK MPs question former Foreign Office boss on Mandelson vetting row

The UK Foreign Affairs Committee has been hearing evidence regarding the vetting process of Lord Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States.

Lord Mandelson was dismissed from the role in September 2025 due to his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sparking ongoing scrutiny of the appointment.

Sir Philip Barton, the senior civil servant at the Foreign Office at the time of the appointment decision, testified that he first became aware of Mandelson's appointment only five days before the public announcement in December 2024.

Barton expressed that he believed it was reasonable to have been consulted given the importance of the diplomatic post but acknowledged the appointment was political rather than a civil service recruitment.

Barton also stated there was no formal mechanism for him to raise concerns about the appointment.

When asked if he would have expressed worries, he said he was concerned that Mandelson's links to Epstein "could become a problem" and described Epstein as a "toxic hot potato subject" in the US.

He noted that the Trump administration had been satisfied with the previous ambassador and was "blindsided" by Mandelson's appointment.

The testimony adds to the ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the vetting process, which has already seen evidence from other officials including Sir Olly Robbins, Barton's successor, who described Downing Street as "dismissive" of the vetting process.

Barton characterized the government's attitude as "uninterested," with the focus on ensuring Mandelson could start by the time of Trump's inauguration rather than on rigorous vetting.

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