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UK's Lammy Signals Support for PM Starmer Over Latest Mandelson Row
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 18, 2026
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Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy reaffirmed his confidence in PM Keir Starmer amid the Mandelson vetting storm, asserting that had Starmer known of the failed security clearance, he would have never approved the appointment.
Lammy Supports Starmer During Mandelson Ambassador Row and Vetting Scandal
Overview of the Mandelson Ambassador Appointment Controversy
LONDON, April 18 (Reuters) - Britain's Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy signalled his support for Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday over the ongoing row about the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
Background of the Appointment
Labour veteran Mandelson was appointed as ambassador by Starmer and subsequently sacked over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in a scandal that has brought the British leader's judgement into question.
Security Vetting and Government Response
Starmer on Friday faced renewed pressure to resign after the government said security vetting had recommended Mandelson not be appointed, but that Foreign Office officials had overruled that recommendation without the prime minister's knowledge.
Lammy's Statement and Defence of Starmer
Lammy, who was in charge of the Foreign Office at the time and is now deputy prime minister and justice secretary, told the Guardian newspaper it was inexplicable Starmer had not been informed of the initial vetting recommendation.
"I have absolutely no doubt at all, knowing the PM as I do, that had he known that Peter Mandelson had not passed the vetting, he would never, ever have appointed him ambassador," Lammy told the newspaper.
Upcoming Parliamentary Statement
The comments come ahead of a statement in parliament on Monday afternoon in which Starmer has promised to set out the full facts of what happened.
Political Fallout and Reactions
While political opponents have said his version of events is not credible and called for him to resign, senior members of his own Labour Party - including those seen as rivals for his position - have not publicly criticised him.
Mandelson's Response
A lawyer for Mandelson did not provide a comment on Thursday when the Guardian newspaper first reported he had failed part of the vetting process.
(Reporting by William JamesEditing by Rod Nickel)
Key Takeaways
- •Lammy publicly backs Starmer, calling it ‘inexplicable’ he was kept in the dark about Mandelson’s failed vetting (theguardian.com)
- •The Foreign Office overrode UK Security Vetting’s recommendation in Jan 2025, unbeknownst to ministers until mid‑April 2026 (theguardian.com)
- •Starmer will deliver a full account to Parliament on Monday amid mounting pressure and internal party concerns (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK's Lammy signals support for PM Starmer over latest Mandelson row
1Why was Peter Mandelson sacked as ambassador?
Peter Mandelson was sacked due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and failing part of the security vetting process.
2Did Prime Minister Starmer know about the vetting concerns?
Deputy PM David Lammy stated that Starmer was not informed about Mandelson failing the vetting.
3Has Keir Starmer faced calls to resign over the Mandelson row?
Yes, Starmer has faced renewed pressure to resign after the scandal and government's handling of the vetting.
4What will happen next regarding the Mandelson scandal?
Prime Minister Starmer is set to make a statement in parliament to clarify the facts behind the appointment.
5What was David Lammy’s role during the Mandelson appointment?
Lammy was in charge of the Foreign Office at the time and is now Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary.
