Starmer Orders Inquiry into Mandelson's Security Issues

0:00On April 20, Prime Minister Keir Starmer just ordered a full inquiry into security issues around Peter Mandelson's time as UK Ambassador to the United States. He straight up admitted in Parliament that picking Mandelson was a big mistake on his part. Turns out, security vetting in December 2024 and January 2025 flagged problems recommending denial on January 28, but foreign office officials overruled it without telling Starmer or top ministers. That override happened because the foreign office had special powers other departments don't, but no tins stripped those away last week. Starmer laid out how vetting usually comes after announcing political picks like this, but now it'll happen first to avoid repeats. He called it wild that officials kept the denial quiet even during internal reviews. Conservatives, led by Kimi Baudinak, slammed it as a national security mess, not just ethics. They say Starmer broke rules by not updating Parliament sooner, and the government's story keeps shifting.

1:01MPs jeered as Starmer explained the timeline, stressing this, aim how government accountability should roll. Even after Mandelson got sacked in September 2025, a civil service review claimed everything was normal, but foreign office bigwigs like, Ali Robbins still hid the vetting denial, the foreign secretary signed off on misleading statements to committees. Starmer only learned the full story this Tuesday, with powers changed and improved kicking off, Starmer's pushing for real answers on why ministers got stonewalled. This could shake up how vetting and secrets flow in Whitehall for good.