Robbins Spills on Mandelson's Rushed UK Ambassador Appointment

0:00Former top UK diplomat Ali Robbins testified before Parliament this week defending the rushed appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States under Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He insisted proper procedures were followed, despite intense pressure from No. 10 to get Mandelson into the role fast. But the hearing only fueled doubts about Starmer's decision-making in the scandal. Robbins revealed that Downing Street showed a dismissive attitude toward security vetting, focusing only on timing, not risks. Starmer fired Mandelson last year after documents exposed deeper ties to Jeffrey Epstein and admitted, and he claimed he was unaware of the vetting team, had flagged major concerns. Opposition voices are piling on, with conservative leader Kimmy Baudinish calling the whole process a sham and accusing Starmer of misleading everyone. Rivals now demand his resignation, saying it's clear the appointment bypassed full checks. Some letting Mandelson handle classified docs prematurely.

1:00Key new details from Robbins, the security red flags weren't about Epstein at all, but Mandelson's shady business links to Russia and China, plus past. Ethics scandals that forced him out of two labor governments. Strait confidentiality rules meant even Robbins couldn't share the full report with Starmer. This mess keeps dogging Starmer as local elections loom in England, Scotland and Wales, where labor-driven could spell real trouble for his, leadership. Derm news today, powered by AI bringing you what matters. I'm Corey with The Story.