Starmer says he only learned this week that Foreign Office overruled Mandelson vetting

Britain's former EU commissioner Lord Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting for the role of UK ambassador to Washington, yet was still appointed to the position anyway, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer claiming he was unaware until this week that Foreign Office officials had overruled the recommendation against granting clearance. The government confirmed that neither Starmer nor any minister was informed that Mandelson was granted developed vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting, adding that the decision was taken by officials in the foreign ministry after the appointment had already been announced. Mandelson is currently under police investigation for allegedly leaking government documents to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer has apologized for the appointment but defended his own conduct, accusing Mandelson of creating a "litany of deceit" about his ties to Epstein and pledging to release documents detailing how the appointment was made. The disclosure has intensified pressure on the prime minister, with opposition leaders from across the political spectrum calling for his resignation. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused Starmer of "the same old sleaze, scandal and cover-ups" seen under Conservative governments, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated that Starmer "is definitely in resigning territory" and called on Labour MPs to act. The Green Party's Sian Berry similarly demanded Starmer's resignation, stating he had "lied and lied again" and calling for accountability. The government has committed to fully disclosing documents related to Mandelson's appointment, including those from UK Security Vetting, to Parliament. This marks a rare instance of senior civil servants overriding security vetting recommendations, a decision made without political oversight that has now placed Starmer at the centre of a political storm despite his assertions that he followed proper procedures and was deceived by Mandelson about the extent of his Epstein connections.