PM tells MPs it is ‘staggering’ he was not told Mandelson failed vetting check

Sir Keir Starmer departs 10 Downing Street to make a statement in the House of Commons (Stefan Rousseau/PA) - (PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer told MPs it was “staggering” that he was not told Lord Peter Mandelson had failed vetting checks and acknowledged Parliament should have known about it “a long time ago”.

The Prime Minister said Foreign Office officials had approved Lord Mandelson’s developed vetting status, enabling him to see secret information as ambassador to the US, despite the recommendation of security experts not to grant clearance.