Intelligence Watchdog Withholds Publication Date for Mandelson Vetting Papers
The protracted wait for the release of Peter Mandelson's security vetting documents is poised to continue indefinitely after Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) explicitly declined to provide any timetable for publication. In a formal letter addressed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday, the committee stated it could not commit to a specific date "until we know the size of the task at hand." The ISC has been formally tasked with reviewing whether certain portions of the papers must be withheld on grounds of national security, a process that now appears open-ended.
Prime Minister Issues Public Apology Amid Mounting Pressure
Earlier on Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer delivered a significant public apology during a speech in Hastings, expressing profound regret to the victims of convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Prime Minister stated he was "sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him" as British Ambassador to Washington. He insisted that "none of us knew the depth of the darkness" surrounding Lord Mandelson's relationship with the sex offender at the time of the diplomatic appointment.
Despite growing uncertainty regarding his political future, Sir Keir struck a defiant tone, acknowledging he shared the "anger and frustration" of colleagues but vowing to continue as Prime Minister. He emphasised, "I was elected on a mandate in 2024 to change the country for the better" and "that's what I intend to do." This declaration comes amid intense internal Labour Party pressure for a "total overhaul of personnel" in Downing Street and demands that he admit to a "catastrophic error of political and moral judgment." Some within the party have specifically called for the dismissal of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, whom many blame for facilitating Lord Mandelson's controversial appointment.
Government and ISC at Odds Over Process
Downing Street officials confirmed they had "begun discussions with the ISC about the process for releasing these documents" and pledged to update Parliament once an agreement is reached. However, the ISC countered this assertion, clarifying it had not engaged in any discussions with the Government on the matter and instead directed attention to its letter outlining procedural expectations. A Government spokesman responded, "We thank the ISC for their letter and will respond to it shortly. We are committed to transparency and, as we've made clear, will comply with the motion."
The Prime Minister had previously stated his desire to publish the documents "as quickly as possible," but noted he had received police advice that releasing certain information could prejudice an ongoing investigation into Lord Mandelson. This legal complication further entrenches the delay, ensuring the scandal will continue to dominate political discourse for the foreseeable future.
Opposition Parties Demand Confidence Vote
The escalating controversy has prompted fierce reactions from opposition leaders, who are now collectively demanding a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch declared at a Westminster press conference, "He will have to be dragged out of Number 10, so I am making them an offer. If they want the change they know the country needs, come and speak to my whips and let's talk seriously about a vote of no confidence to force the moment."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey echoed this sentiment, stating, "Let's have a confidence vote now to see whether Labour MPs have any confidence in the Prime Minister, so the Government can get past this one way or the other and start focusing on the change our country needs." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage characterised the Prime Minister's apology as "very weak" and "not quite believable," dramatically asserting, "This is the biggest scandal for 100 years. This is way bigger than the Profumo affair back in the early 60s. This is sex, money, corruption, the use of confidential information."
The convergence of a delayed document release, a Prime Ministerial apology for misplaced trust, and unified opposition calls for a confidence vote creates a profound political crisis for Sir Keir Starmer's administration, with the Mandelson papers remaining a central, unresolved flashpoint.
