Inside No10 as 'livid' Keir Starmer orders probe into Mandelson vetting failings

Inside No10 as 'livid' Keir Starmer orders probe into Mandelson vetting failingsExplosive revelations that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting but was still handed the top Washington job anyway have plunged Downing Street into crisisCommentsNewsopinionLizzy Buchan Political Editor, Dave Burke Political Correspondent and Sophie Huskisson Political Correspondent22:08, 16 Apr 2026Updated 22:16, 16 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesKeir Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite his ties to Jeffrey Epstein(Image: PA)Keir Starmer is once again under fire over his fateful decision to name Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.‌Explosive revelations that the ex-Labour peer failed his security vetting but still got the top Washington job anyway have plunged Downing Street into crisis.‌Tonight, a No10 insider said the Prime Minister was "absolutely livid", as sources insisted he had not been told that Foreign Office officials overruled a vetting agency to allow Lord Mandelson to take up the role.‌Mr Starmer is understood to have ordered a probe after he found out on Tuesday that Lord Mandelson was initially denied security clearance in January 2025 after going through developed vetting, a top-secret background check done by UK Security Vetting (UKSV).READ MORE: Government ADMITS Mandelson failed security vetting  - but says Starmer not awareREAD MORE: Keir Starmer makes 'far-fetched' claim after Morgan McSweeney phone stolenView 2 ImagesLord Mandelson previously said he regretted ever meeting Epstein(Image: AP)The bombshell was uncovered by officials trawling through the so-called Mandelson files - tens of thousands of documents relating to his appointment that MPs have forced the Government to publish. The furious PM knew he'd have to update Parliament - but his plans were upended when the news got out.‌After a two-hour vacuum, No10 put out a statement saying the PM and his ministers were in the dark and an explosive blame...