A Guardian investigation has revealed that the Foreign Office overruled a decision by UK security officials to deny Peter Mandelson developed vetting clearance before his appointment as US ambassador. The top civil servant at the Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins, has been forced to resign following the disclosure.
Mandelson failed a developed vetting process in January 2025, a highly confidential background check by security officials. Despite this, Foreign Office officials used a rarely invoked authority to override the recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV), a division of the Cabinet Office.
Downing Street insisted Prime Minister Keir Starmer had no knowledge of the vetting decision until this week and said responsibility lay with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Starmer is said to be “furious” about being kept in the dark.
The revelation raises questions about whether Starmer misled the public, as he had previously stated that Mandelson received “clearance for the role”. Opposition leaders, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, have called for Starmer to take responsibility or resign if he misled parliament.
Senior government officials have also been considering whether to withhold from parliament documents that would reveal the vetting denial. Any attempt to withhold them from the Intelligence and Security Committee could breach a parliamentary motion to release all papers relating to Mandelson’s appointment.
