Badenoch slams Starmer’s ‘preposterous’ claims about Mandelson vetting failure

• Sir Keir Starmer is facing accusations of a "cover-up" after denying prior knowledge of Peter Mandelson's failed security vetting for the US ambassador role.
• Sir Keir insists he only found out about the vetting failure this week, expressing anger that he and other ministers were not informed sooner.
• The Independent approached Downing Street, specifically Sir Keir's then-director of communications, Tim Allen, about the vetting concerns in September.
• Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, dismissed Sir Keir's denial as "preposterous", suggesting he either lied to Parliament or is incompetent, and called for his resignation.
• There are demands for a binding parliamentary vote to release all documents related to Mandelson's appointment and for Sir Olly Robbins, who allegedly overrode security officials, to give evidence.

IN FULL

Starmer accused of a ‘cover up’ over Mandelson vetting scandal