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UK PM Starmer Says It Is 'staggering' He Was Not Told About Mandelson Vetting Failure
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 17, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 17, 2026
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it “staggering” that neither he nor any minister had been informed that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting before being appointed ambassador to the US; he’ll address Parliament on Monday to disclose all relevant facts.
Keir Starmer Responds to Lack of Disclosure on Mandelson Vetting Failure
Prime Minister's Reaction to Security Vetting Oversight
Starmer Expresses Outrage Over Lack of Notification
LONDON, April 17 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday it was "staggering" that he had not been told that former ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting.
Consideration of Position and Public Statement
Starmer, asked whether he was considering his position, replied that he was furious that he had not been told about the failure.
Starmer's Comments to Reporters
"That I wasn't told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering," Starmer told reporters.
"Not only was I not told, no minister was told, and I'm absolutely furious about that."
Commitment to Parliamentary Transparency
He added: "What I intend to do is to go to parliament on Monday to set out all the relevant facts in true transparency so parliament has the full picture."
(Reporting by William James, editing by Sarah Young)
Key Takeaways
- •Peter Mandelson was initially denied developed security clearance in January 2025, but the Foreign Office overruled UK Security Vetting’s recommendation—a step Starmer says he only learned of in April 2026 (theguardian.com).
- •The appointment proceeded despite prior warnings from official due diligence documents citing ‘reputational risk’ due to Mandelson’s known links to Jeffrey Epstein (apnews.com).
- •The top Foreign Office civil servant, Sir Olly Robbins, resigned over the vetting overruling; police have launched a criminal investigation into Mandelson over alleged misconduct including leaked information (apnews.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK PM Starmer says it is 'staggering' he was not told about Mandelson vetting failure
1What did Keir Starmer say about the Mandelson vetting failure?
Keir Starmer said it was staggering he was not informed about Peter Mandelson's failed security vetting and expressed his anger over the lack of disclosure.
2Was Keir Starmer considering his position due to the vetting issue?
When asked, Keir Starmer did not indicate he was considering his position but emphasized his frustration at not being informed.
3What action will Keir Starmer take following the vetting failure disclosure?
Keir Starmer stated he would address parliament to present all relevant facts and ensure transparency regarding the issue.
4Who else was not informed about Mandelson's vetting failure?
According to Starmer, no other ministers were informed about Peter Mandelson's failed security vetting.
