Ministers have no authority to withhold Mandelson vetting file, committee says

Group of MPs and peers in effect accuse government of failing to comply with parliament’s will over release of files

A powerful parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador has revealed that the government is withholding his vetting file despite not having the authority to do so.

In an extraordinary intervention, the intelligence and security committee (ISC) has criticised the government over its handling of the release of Mandelson-related papers and in effect accused ministers failing to comply with parliament’s will.