'Staggering' I was not told Mandelson failed vetting, says PM

'Staggering' I was not told Mandelson failed vetting, says PM19 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJennifer McKiernanPolitical reporterBBCPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in Paris for talks on the Iran warSir Keir Starmer has said it's "staggering" that he, as prime minister, was not told about Lord Peter Mandelson failing to pass initial security vetting checks.The prime minister is facing calls to resign over the revelation that vetting officers recommended against Lord Mandelson's being appointed as US ambassador, but that recommendation was overruled by the Foreign Office.Sir Olly Robbins, who was two weeks into the job heading up the Foreign Office at the time, was effectively sacked by Sir Keir last night.Opposition parties are calling for Sir Keir to go, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch saying the explanation so far is "completely preposterous" and "all roads lead to resignation".At a press conference in Westminster, she said Sir Keir "cannot hope" to continue leading the country due to his "incompetence," accusing him of being "so blinded by his own righteousness that he cannot see what everybody else can see".The Tory leader said she was "considering every parliamentary option" for removing the prime minister but called on Labour MPs to "do the right thing" and get rid of him."I do not have enough Conservatives MPs to win a vote of no confidence," she said."The people who can do that, who can make this happen are Labour MPs."Key questions facing government over Mandelson vettingWhat is Developed Vetting security clearance at centre of Mandelson row?Chris Mason: Mandelson nightmare haunts Starmer againLord Mandelson was announced as the UK's ambassador to the US in December 2024, before in-depth vetting had been carried out.He formally took up the role in February 2025, and was sacked seven months later over his ties to the...