Keir Starmer is under renewed pressure as he addresses Parliament following revelations that Peter Mandelson was appointed UK ambassador to the United States despite failing a security vetting process.
Mandelson, 72, was dismissed in September after details emerged about the extent of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer has since apologised for the appointment, stating he was unaware of the failed vetting until recently and calling the oversight “unforgivable.”
The controversy has intensified after it was confirmed that the vetting failure occurred before Mandelson took up the role in February 2025. Senior Foreign Office official Olly Robbins has been dismissed after losing the prime minister’s confidence.
Starmer is expected to present the full details to lawmakers, while Robbins is due to testify before a parliamentary committee.
Opposition figures have sharply criticised the situation. Ed Davey described the decision as a serious misjudgment, while Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of negligence and damaging national security.
Despite the backlash, some government figures, including Douglas Alexander, have expressed support for Starmer’s leadership, while acknowledging that key questions remain unanswered.
The issue resurfaces just weeks before local elections, raising further scrutiny over Starmer’s leadership and the government’s handling of the appointment process.
