Starmer faces critical 48 hours amid growing outrage over Mandelson

• Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces a critical 48 hours amid growing outrage over the handling of Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting for the US ambassador role.
• Sir Keir will be questioned by MPs in the Commons on Monday, while Sir Olly Robbins, sacked Foreign Office permanent secretary, is set to testify on Tuesday, potentially undermining the Prime Minister's account.
• No 10 claims Sir Keir only learned last Tuesday that Lord Mandelson was cleared against security advice, describing the failure to inform him as “staggering”.
• A “smoking gun” WhatsApp exchange from last September between The Independent and Downing Street's then director of communications suggests No 10 was aware of vetting concerns much earlier.
• This revelation raises questions about whether Sir Keir misled Parliament in February and has led to calls for his resignation from within and outside his party.

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Judgement day for Starmer over Mandelson vetting scandal