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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Paul Lewis, Pippa Crerar and Henry Dyer

Five key questions: who overruled decision to deny Mandelson security clearance?

composite of Olly Robbins, Keir Starmer, Morgan McSweeney and Peter Mandelson
Olly Robbins, Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney are all facing questions over the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson. Illustration: Guardian Design/Getty

The revelation that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance, only for the decision to be overruled by the Foreign Office so he could take up his post as ambassador to the US, raises a number of questions.

According to multiple sources, Mandelson was initially denied clearance in late January 2025 after a developed vetting process, a type of highly confidential background check carried out by UK Security Vetting (UKSV), a division of the Cabinet Office.

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