Under-fire Keir Starmer vents fury over Peter Mandelson security vetting fiasco

Under-fire Keir Starmer vents fury over Peter Mandelson security vetting fiasco The Prime Minister labelled it 'staggering' and 'unforgivable' he had not been informed the Foreign Office had overruled the recommendation from the UK Security Vetting teamCommentsNewsAshley Cowburn Deputy Political Editor and Dave Burke Political Correspondent 17:46, 17 Apr 2026Updated 17:46, 17 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesKeir Starmer said he was absolutely furious over the security vetting fiasco(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Keir Starmer has said he is "absolutely furious" he was not told Peter Mandelson failed to pass security vetting for the role of ambassador to the US.‌The Prime Minister labelled it "staggering" and "unforgivable" he had not been informed the Foreign Office had overruled the recommendation from the UK Security Vetting team. Sir Olly Robbins - the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office - was sacked by the PM after being told he had lost confidence in the top mandarin on Thursday evening.‌Facing reporters on Friday for the first time since it emerged Lord Mandelson was made US ambassador despite failing his security vetting, Mr Starmer vented his fury.‌The PM, who was in Paris for a summit on the Iran crisis, said: “That I wasn’t told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering. That I wasn’t told that he had failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable. Not only was I not told, no minister was told, and I’m absolutely furious about that."Mr Starmer added he will deliver a statement to the Commons on Monday "to set out all the relevant facts in true transparency so Parliament has the full picture."READ MORE: Mandelson scandal LIVE: Furious Keir Starmer blasts 'unforgivable' failings after shock vetting revelationREAD MORE: Donald Trump lashes out as UK-French Strait of Hormuz mission an...