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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Pan Pylas

Starmer faces calls to resign as UK government admits ambassador to US failed vetting process

Britain Politics - (2026 Getty Images)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced calls Thursday to resign after it emerged that Peter Mandelson was initially denied security clearance for the post of ambassador to the United States, which he was eventually fired from over his close links to the disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Following the revelation in the Guardian newspaper, the government said Starmer was not aware that the Foreign Office had overruled a security vetting process for Mandelson to become U.K. ambassador to Washington “until earlier this week.”

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