Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff has denied claims he bullied civil servants into appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Morgan McSweeney, who resigned earlier this year over his part in the appointment, said he “doesn’t recognise” himself in claims the Foreign Office was subjected to “constant pressure” to approve vetting.
It comes after ex-mandarin Sir Olly Robbins said No 10 had taken a “dismissive” approach to vetting and wanted Lord Mandelson in Washington “as soon as humanly possible” as he gave evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee this week.
Downing Street rejected the claims, and denied that Mr McSweeney had “nagged or cajoled or bullied” officials to grant security clearance.
Mr McSweeney told a security forum in Kyiv on Thursday said: “I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes. I don’t recognise that character.”
Meanwhile, Sir Keir has accused his opponents of launching a smear campaign and making politically motivated allegations over his handling of the scandal.
The prime minister said he had been exonerated over accusations he misled MPs by evidence from Sir Olly.
But the defence has not stopped reports of a growing rift in the cabinet with the atmosphere among the top team described as “bleak” as fears grow for the upcoming local elections.
Key Points
- Morgan McSweeney denies 'bullying' civil servants
- Ex-Labour MP calls PM's decision to sack Robbins the 'biggest act of political self-harm'
- Second Labour MP calls for PM's resignation
- Starmer says opponents making ‘any allegation they can’ over Mandelson vetting
- Starmer made ‘biggest mistake of his life’ appointing Mandelson – Red Wall chair
Recap: Why did Lord Mandelson fail his vetting for US ambassador role?
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe controversy over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador continues unabated as the prime minister faces attacks from all sides of the political spectrum.
Evidence given by top Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins on Tuesday contradicted several of the claims made by Downing Street over the vetting process for the appointment, prompting fresh allegations that Sir Keir misled parliament over the issue.
The fallout comes after it was revealed last week that Peter Mandelson failed crucial security vetting for his appointment as US ambassador, but was given the role anyway after Foreign Office intervention.
But why did Lord Mandelson fail his vetting?
You can read more below:
Why did Lord Mandelson fail his vetting for US ambassador role?
Officials requested Mandelson’s vetting details days after Independent revealed he failed
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneGovernment officials scrambled to obtain information on Peter Mandelson’s security vetting last September - just days after The Independent told Downing Street he had failed the critical checks.
Cat Little, the most senior official in the Cabinet Office, told MPs on Thursday that details were requested on 15 September.
The Independent contacted Sir Keir’s then director of communications, Tim Allan, on 11 September and later that same day ran a front-page story revealing Mandelson had failed vetting.
You can read the full story below:
Officials requested Mandelson vetting details after Independent revealed he failed
Comment: As his cabinet cracks, how does Keir Starmer carry on regardless?
Friday 24 April 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAt PMQs on Wednesday, Keir Starmer looked more assured than he has for some time – but there is something almost delusional in his upbeat demeanour, says John Rentoul.
You can read more below:
As his cabinet cracks, how does Keir Starmer carry on regardless?
McSweeney says he 'doesn't recognise' himself in pressure claims
Friday 24 April 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneMorgan McSweeney has denied claims he bullied civil servants into appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, widely regarded as a protege of Lord Mandelson, resigned in February over his part in the peer getting the coveted job.
Ahead of his appearance at the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, the political strategist reportedly told a security forum in Kyiv: “I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes.
“I don’t recognise that character,” he said, as first reported by The Times.
It comes after former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins said there was an “atmosphere of pressure” and “constant chasing” from within the private office about Lord Mandelson’s vetting.
Downing Street has already denied that civil servants were bullied or cajoled by Mr McSweeney.
Labour risk being ‘stonked’ in London elections over Mandelson scandal, Sadiq Khan warns
Thursday 23 April 2026 23:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSadiq Khan has warned the “omnishambles” of Peter Mandelson’s appointment has left Labour in danger of “being stonked” across London in the May elections.
In a stark warning to Sir Keir Starmer, the London mayor admitted Labour are having a tough time in the capital with Westminster scandal threatening the party’s foothold in London’s councils.
Describing the Mandelson crisis as “an omnishambles from start to finish”, Sir Sadiq said he was “really frustrated” that the scandal was making it harder to engage voters in the party’s local achievements.
You can read more below:
Labour risk being stonked in London elections, Khan warns Starmer
Morgan McSweeney denies pressuring civil servants
Thursday 23 April 2026 22:58 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe prime minister’s former chief of staff has denied claims he pressured civil servants into appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Morgan McSweeney, who resigned in February over his role in appointing Lord Mandelson, is alleged to have told Sir Philip Barton, then permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, to “just f***ing approve” Mandelson’s appointment.
Speaking at a conference, The Times reports he said: “I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes. I don’t recognise that character.”
He said he resigned because he “took responsibility” for recommending Lord Mandelson for the role of ambassador.
Mr McSweeney will appear in front of the Foreign Affairs Committee next week.
Watch: Starmer looks less like prime minister and more like lawyer desperately defending himself
Thursday 23 April 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneStarmer made ‘biggest mistake of his life’ appointing Mandelson – Red Wall chair
Thursday 23 April 2026 21:42 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer made the “biggest mistake of his life” by appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the US, the leader of a prominent group of backbenchers has said.
Jo White, who chairs the Red Wall group of Labour MPs, said the government must “cleanse” itself of the problems that have emerged from the vetting scandal.
Amid reports of a split in his cabinet, the prime minister has accused his opponents of making politically motivated allegations.
Asked if she agreed with calls for Sir Keir to quit, Ms White told GB News: “Obviously I’ve heard these conversations at the side lines.
“I’ve been out and about in my constituency, speaking to local residents, and nobody has said to me they think it’s time for Keir Starmer to go.
“They obviously expressed concerns about exactly what’s happened and the way where we are now.
“But people have said to me, there’s a big job of work to be done, and their focus is on sorting out the cost-of-living crisis, and I met with the Red Wall group with Sir Keir yesterday, and our discussion wasn’t about Peter Mandelson.
“Our focus was on re-building industry and growth in our constituencies.”
She added: “He’s made the biggest mistake of his life.
“He’s admitted that, and I think that the biggest thing he has to do is re-iterate his commitment to clean up our politics, because we can only re-build trust if we cleanse ourselves of the problems.”
‘He’ll be toast by August’: Readers on Starmer’s precarious position after Mandelson scandal
Thursday 23 April 2026 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneOur community sees Keir Starmer’s position as increasingly fragile, with many arguing he is clinging on to power amid mounting doubts over his leadership, authority and electoral prospects.
You can explore our community’s thoughts below:
‘Toast by August’: Readers weigh in on Starmer’s precarious position
Recap: Starmer could face sleaze inquiry, The Independent understands
Thursday 23 April 2026 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe prime minister could face a parliamentary inquiry over the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal, it has been reported.
The Independent understands Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is urging the Speaker of the Commons to refer Sir Keir Starmer to the privileges committee over concerns he misled MPs over the vetting process.
Any move would be subject to a vote by all MPs.
Ex-Labour MP calls PM's decision to sack Robbins the 'biggest act of political self-harm'
Thursday 23 April 2026 20:06 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA former Labour MP has blasted the sacking of Sir Olly Robbins as the "biggest act of political self-harm anyone ever saw” as he joined calls for the prime minister to face the privileges committee over the Mandelson vetting scandal.
Karl Turner, who had the Labour whip removed last month, told Sky News he is "not suggesting the prime minister has deliberately misled parliament" but added "integrity is important".
He said he doesn't want the PM to resign, but instead "improve and get a grip of things".
Reform wins first Salford council seat after by-election slammed as ‘indefensible’
Thursday 23 April 2026 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneReform UK has been accused of a “complete lack of respect” after a party candidate triggered a standalone by-election, expected to cost more than £20,000, for an area that will go to the polls again in just two weeks.
Residents of Barton and Winton, in Salford, voted on Wednesday to elect a new councillor following the death of David Lancaster, who had held the seat since 1965.
Michael Felse was duly elected and has become Reform UK’s first member on Salford City Council, winning with 676 votes to Labour’s 643 – a narrow 33 – to represent the ward.
But Labour sources have criticised Reform for triggering the by-election, describing the move as “unnecessary” and “indefensible”. The party, which lost the seat, points out that the event will have cost the local authority over £20,000, despite a third of the council’s seats being up for election on May 7, when it also could have been held.
You can read the full report below:
Reform wins first Salford council seat after by-election slammed as ‘indefensible’
Watch: Starmer says Robbins evidence ‘puts to bed’ claims that he misled MPs
Thursday 23 April 2026 19:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRecord number of rape offences recorded as minister promises ‘urgent action’
Thursday 23 April 2026 19:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe number of rape offences recorded by police are at a record high, with some 74,000 reported in 2025, new data published on Thursday showed.
Prosecutors are also working on more rape cases than at any point in the last decade, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed. Charges for rape in the year ending December 2025 also rose by 29 per cent on the year before, from 5,233 to 6,727, figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.
Home Office minister Jess Phillips pledged to take “urgent action” to safeguard women and girls, including hastening the roll-out of specialist rape and sexual offence teams in every police force in England and Wales.
The Independent’s home affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft has this report:
Record number of rape offences recorded as minister promises ‘urgent action’
PM tells UK's Jewish community that fight to practice religion freely is 'all of our fight'
Thursday 23 April 2026 18:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer told leaders and members of the UK’s Jewish community that the fight they face to practice their religion freely is “all of our fight”, including the government’s.
Addressing a roundtable as he visited Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, on Thursday, the prime minister said: “I’ve come here to stand with you, I’ve come because I wanted to come and show my support, my understanding of that deep sense of anxiety.
“Of course there’s resilience, I know there’s great resilience in our Jewish community, but alongside that, as the Chief Rabbi said a moment ago this afternoon, there is this deep anxiety and it’s very important that we therefore work together and that we fight for freedom of religion, freedom to practice one’s religion in a synagogue and elsewhere frankly.
“And that isn’t just the fight of the Jewish community, it’s all of our fight.
“So this is not a government that is coming to support you in your fight. It’s a government that says this is our fight as well because this is the Britain that we believe in – that tolerant, reasonable Britain.
“There are too many people who want to tear that apart, particularly at the moment, and so we must absolutely stand with you, fight with you.”
PM 'increasingly concerned' about foreign countries proxies in UK
Thursday 23 April 2026 18:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has said he is “increasingly concerned” about countries using proxies for criminal activity in the UK as he visited a London synagogue which had been subjected to an arson attack.
The prime minister was visiting the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, which was attacked on Saturday – one of several Jewish community venues to be targeted by arsonists.
Since late March, there have been arson attacks on Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, a synagogue and a former Jewish charity, as well as an incident where a drone was flown near the Israeli embassy.
Speaking at the Kenton United Synagogue on Thursday afternoon, Sir Keir said: “We have to deal with malign state actors, that will require legislation.
“We’re going to bring that legislation forward. It’s really important we do that. It’s very important this particular context because I’m increasingly concerned that a number of countries are using proxies for attacks in this country.
“It’s very, very important that the counter terrorism police, and the police are working with CST together on this, but on both fronts, we need to move forward.”
Starmer insists he is best placed to stay in post after Trump remarks
Thursday 23 April 2026 18:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has insisted he is best placed to pursue Britain’s national interest, after US President Donald Trump told the BBC the prime minister should drill the North Sea for oil and gas, and clamp down on migration to ensure he remains in post.
Asked for his response to the president’s remarks, the prime minister said: “Well look, I’m the prime minister of the United Kingdom, and I make my decisions based on what’s in the British national interest, and not what other people say or do.
“I’m here to serve the British people always, to have their interests and to make sure that I make the right decisions for them.
“That is why I took the decision that we would not be dragged into the war in Iran.
“That is why I took the decision we wouldn’t be dragged into the blockade of the Strait.
“That is in our best national interest. That is my duty. I will stick to it, and I’m not going to be diverted or deflected from that by what anybody else says.”
King's visit could 'absolutely' help repair relations with UK, Trump says
Thursday 23 April 2026 17:30 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Donald Trump has said the King’s visit to the US could “absolutely” help repair relations with the UK.
Speaking to the BBC, the US president said King Charles is a “fantastic man”.
The so-called “special relationship” between the two countries has come under strain over the Iran war, with Sir Keir Starmer refusing to heed President Trump’s calls for assistance in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump previously said he is "not happy" with the UK’s support, while Sir Keir has repeatedly said the country will not be drawn into a "wider war".
Badenoch says Starmer misled MPs over vetting scandal
Thursday 23 April 2026 17:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneConservative party leader Kemi Badenoch has been speaking to journalists this afternoon over her allegations the prime minister misled MPs by insisting due process was followed when appointing Lord Peter Mandelson.
"What we saw yesterday [at PMQs] was the prime minister redacting bits of Robbins's evidence to make it sound like he was supporting him. So he has misled parliament again,” Sky News reports her as saying.
"He did not follow full due process. He misled parliament on that. And a lot of MPs, including his MPs, are beginning to worry. His cabinet ministers are briefing against him.
"What we're seeing is a prime minister in trouble at a time when he needs to be focused on domestic issues - like I am - talking to people who are running an oil refinery who are worried about our sovereign industrial capacity."
In pictures: Shabana Mahmood visits France after deal to curb Channel crossings
Thursday 23 April 2026 16:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Second Labour MP calls for PM's resignation
Thursday 23 April 2026 16:11 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA second Labour MP has now called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign following the Mandelson vetting scandal.
Graham Stringer, the Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South, told GB News he believes the prime minister should not resign immediately but should “announce a timetable for him going”.
"I don't think the prime minister can survive the rest of this parliament," he told GB News.
"I think the decent thing for him to do would [be] not to resign immediately because that would leave a huge whole in the middle of government.
"But he should announce a timetable for him going so that the Labour Party could have a proper discussion, debate about what is best for the country, what is best for the Labour Party, and choose a leader accordingly."
It comes after Hartlepool’s Jonathan Brash called for the prime minister to step down on Wednesday.
Who is Morgan McSweeney? Starmer’s former right-hand man set to face Mandelson scandal grilling
Thursday 23 April 2026 16:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneCabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little has been the latest to face a grilling in front of the Foreign Affairs Committee over the Mandelson vetting scandal.
Next week, former Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney will face the same treatment.
But who is Mr McSweeney? You can read more below:
Who is Morgan McSweeney? Starmer’s right-hand man and Peter Mandelson ally
Former defence secretaries back ex-Nato chief’s warning that PM’s ‘complacency’ on defence putting UK ‘in peril’
Thursday 23 April 2026 15:40 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFormer defence secretaries and Labour grandees have rowed in behind a former Nato secretary general, who has warned that the UK’s security is “in peril” as a result of the “corrosive complacency” of Sir Keir Starmer.
George Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary who was appointed by the prime minister to write the government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), will use a speech on Tuesday to accuse “non-military experts” in the Treasury of “vandalism” and claim Sir Keir is unwilling “to make the necessary investment” in Britain’s defence.
Piling in on Lord Robertson’s criticisms, Malcolm Rifkind, a former defence secretary, argued that the government’s “prime responsibility” is defence, and called for ministers to fund this through a cut to welfare or an increase in income tax.
You can read the full report below:
Ex-Nato chief says Starmer’s ‘complacency’ on defence is putting UK ‘in peril’
All the key points from Cat Little's evidence
Thursday 23 April 2026 15:20 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Cabinet Office’s most senior civil servant appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee of MPs on Thursday morning to answer questions over the vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson.
It comes after ex-head of the Foreign Office Sir Olly Robbins, who was sacked over the scandal, gave evidence earlier this week.
• Cat Little said that due process had been followed in the vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson
• She confirmed that she, along with others in the civil service, knew about Mandelson’s failed vetting weeks before they told the PM
• However, she said Sir Olly Robbins had refused to let her see vetting documents relating to Lord Mandelson at the time
• Ms Little also said she had not seen evidence of pressure from No 10 on the Foreign Office to clear Lord Peter Mandelson to take up the post of US ambassador - contrary to Sir Olly’s evidence earlier this week
• She also said the ‘presumption’ was that Lord Mandelson did not need developed security vetting before he was sent to Washington to become the UK’s top diplomat in the US - because he was already a member of the House of Lords
Watch: Starmer warns of divisive ‘voices both here and abroad’ in St George’s Day speech
Thursday 23 April 2026 14:56 , Holly EvansStarmer says opponents making ‘any allegation they can’ over Mandelson vetting
Thursday 23 April 2026 14:28 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer has accused his opponents of making politically motivated allegations about the Mandelson vetting scandal.
Asked if he had considered resigning, he said: “Last week, my political opponents were saying that there’s no way a civil servant wouldn’t have told me about the outcome of a developed vetting security exercise.
“Turns out my political opponents were completely wrong about that.
“Then they said that I was dishonest.
“It turns out they were completely wrong about that.
“They are now putting any allegation they can and I will tell you for why – they are opposed politically to what this Government is trying to achieve.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is said to be pressing for his referral to the Privileges Committee claiming he misled MPs, The Times reported.
Sarwar continues to ‘stand by’ his call for Starmer to resign as PM
Thursday 23 April 2026 14:20 , Holly EvansAnas Sarwar has said he continues to “stand by” his call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign.
In February, the Scottish Labour leader called on the Prime Minister to quit amid the row over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Lord Mandelson was sacked last year, less than a year into the job, after details of his association with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein emerged in files published by the US government.
Speaking to the Press Association on Thursday, Mr Sarwar said: “I have said for a long time now that the Mandelson scandal was the tipping point for me for why I said what I said back in February. It’s something I stand by and don’t recoil from.
“But as far as this election campaign is concerned, I’m also really clear that a vote for me and Scottish Labour in this election is not an endorsement of Keir Starmer, and it won’t be used as an endorsement of Keir Starmer.”
If you thought Keir Starmer was Mr Nice Guy, think again...
Thursday 23 April 2026 14:00 , Holly EvansThere’s a photograph doing the rounds today of the former chancellor George Osborne shaking Keir Starmer’s hand as he welcomes the prime minister and other dignitaries to the British Museum earlier this week. The caption reads: “They both have something in common: Mandelson has pissed on both their houses.” Social media is always at its best when acting the wag.
And wouldn’t it be nice for Team Starmer if the current woes of our PM could all be blamed on Peter? But they cannot. Instead, Starmer, forced into making apology after apology for his actions, is beginning to resemble the very man he loved to push into saying sorry at the despatch box – Boris Johnson.
His growing number of enemies in the Labour Party are already using the past tense for Starmer, less than two years after his arrival in No 10. Perhaps that’s why our wan prime minister looked so at ease sharing gallows humour with another political ghost.
Read the full analysis from Emily Sheffield here:
Government officials scramble to see Mandelson’s vetting details - days after Independent revealed he failed
Thursday 23 April 2026 13:42 , Holly EvansGovernment officials scrambled to get access to information on Peter Mandelson’s security vetting last September - just days after The Independent told No 10 he had failed.
Cat Little, the most senior official in the Cabinet Office, told MPs on Thursday that details were requested on 15 September.
The Independent contacted Sir Keir’s then director of communications, Tim Allan, on 11 September and later that same day ran a front-page story revealing Mandelson had failed vetting.
The prime minister has told MPs that he and his ministers found out only last Tuesday evening that UK Security Vetting had advised Lord Mandelson should be denied clearance.
Giving evidence on the Mandelson scandal, Ms Little said she could see an audit trailed that showed that “on the 15th of September last year, the Foreign Office security team request access to a number of documents relating to the vetting file, and, on the same day, the documents requested are sent to the Foreign Office.”
She did not know who else saw the documents at the time, she told MPs on the Commons Foreign Affairs committee.
Downing Street deny allegations Starmer misled the House at PMQs
Thursday 23 April 2026 13:37 , Holly EvansDowning Street have had to once again insist Sir Keir Starmer has not misled the House over claims relating to the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal.
The prime minister is facing accusations that he “materially changing the meaning” of the evidence Sir Olly Robbins gave to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee earlier this week during PMQs.
Sir Keir said that “no pressure existed whatsoever” on the Foreign Office during Mandelson’s vetting process, when Sir Olly had in fact told MPs that there was “constant pressure” on officials.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said Sir Keir had not misled the house and that they “dispute” there was constant pressure on the Foreign Office.
They said: “We don’t accept that asking for updates on the progress of an appointment amounts to pressure in relation to the vetting process or outcome.”
Intelligence committee raises concerns over redactions to Mandelson documents
Thursday 23 April 2026 13:17 , Holly EvansA senior member of the body scrutinising documents related to the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador has raised concerns the Government is redacting more information than was initially agreed.
Sir Jeremy Wright, the deputy chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, said the Government had written that it could black out details in documents released to it if they were deemed to be “commercially sensitive”.
Earlier this year, MPs voted to release documents related to the appointment of Lord Mandelson that contained information that may compromise international relations or national security to the parliamentary body.
However, Sir Jeremy told MPs on Thursday that along with the first tranche of documents that was released on March 11, the Government sent a note detailing how further redactions would be made.
It included individuals’ addresses and contact information, but also said it may take in “other public interest principles, including commercially sensitive information”.
Sir Jeremy said this was not along the lines of what MPs voted on in February, as the compromised motion saw off a rebellion by Labour MPs unhappy with the Government’s appointment of Lord Mandelson.
Sunak suggests scrapping national insurance to support young people at risk of unemployment from AI
Thursday 23 April 2026 12:55 , Dan HaygarthThe government should move towards scrapping national insurance contributions to help young people whose jobs are being wiped out as a result of artificial intelligence, Rishi Sunak has suggested.
The former prime minister - who was appointed as an adviser to both AI firm Anthropic and Microsoft last year - has warned that concerns from graduates looking for entry level jobs are justified, despite him being an AI enthusiast.
Mr Sunak said that bosses are privately acknowledging to him that recruitment of young people is flattening because of the rapid advancement of the technology.
Read more:
Scrap national insurance to support youngsters at risk of AI job hit, Sunak says
Starmer says 'cabinet working really hard' as he's questioned about split reports
Thursday 23 April 2026 12:39 , Dan Haygarth
Sir Keir Starmer said the Cabinet was “working really hard” as he faced questions over reports of a split.
Asked whether the Cabinet was united behind him, he told broadcasters on Thursday: “The Cabinet is working really hard on a huge amount of issues and what we’re delivering at the moment.
“We’re preparing for the King’s Speech and all the further measures that we’re going to need to take the country forward.
“And of course, the issue we discuss at Cabinet a lot in recent weeks is the war on two fronts, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the developing situation in Iran.
“What we discuss at Cabinet is the international aspect of that, but also the domestic impact in relation to that and the measures that we need to take to ensure that we’re assessing the risks and making sure we’re protecting people in this country from those impacts.”
On Wednesday, energy secretary Ed Miliband earlier said he had feared Lord Mandelson’s appointment would “blow up” and had spoken to then-foreign secretary David Lammy about his concerns.
But the former Labour leader said he did not think Sir Keir should resign over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson to the post.
Watch: Senior civil servant dodges questions over Mandelson’s vetting report
Thursday 23 April 2026 12:30 , Dan HaygarthStarmer reiterates belief that Sir Olly was 'wrong' not to tell him Mandelson vetting outcome
Thursday 23 April 2026 12:24 , Dan HaygarthSir Keir Starmer reiterated that he thought former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins was “wrong” not to tell him the outcome of Lord Peter Mandelson’s vetting.
The prime minister said on Thursday: “I strongly think that the outcome of the security clearance exercise, the developed vetting exercise, was important and should have been brought to my attention, and could have been brought to my attention, and had it been brought to my attention before Peter Mandelson took up his post and I wouldn’t have appointed him.
“I think it was a serious error of judgment. It’s very important to make clear to everybody that Sir Olly Robbins does not suggest he did tell me that information.
“He makes it clear he took a decision not to give me that information. I think that was the wrong decision.
“But all of the allegations that have been that he wouldn’t have told me, he must have told me, I couldn’t be telling the truth about this. They’re all allegations by my political opponents, all of which have been found to be a case that just can’t be substantiated.”
It comes after Kemi Badenoch said at PMQs on Wednesday that Sir Olly had told MPs the Number 10 team had shown a “dismissive attitude to vetting”.
When Ms Badenoch asked whether Sir Keir stood by his statement last year that full due process was followed, the prime minister told the Commons on Wednesday: “Yesterday Sir Olly Robbins was asked if he shared that decision with me, Number 10 or any other ministers.
“He gave a clear answer. ‘No’. Mr Speaker, that puts to bed all the allegations levelled at me by those opposite in relation to dishonesty.”
Comment: As his cabinet cracks, how does Keir Starmer carry on regardless?
Thursday 23 April 2026 12:15 , Dan HaygarthAt PMQs, Keir Starmer looked more assured than he has for some time – but there is something almost delusional in his upbeat demeanour, says John Rentoul.
As his cabinet cracks, how does Keir Starmer carry on regardless?
The Independent story at the centre of the Mandelson vetting scandal
Thursday 23 April 2026 12:00 , Dan HaygarthA top civil servant has been grilled over The Independent's reporting, which revealed concerns that Lord Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting.
The newspaper approached No 10 about claims that Lord Mandelson had not cleared his security vetting as long ago as last September, when the disgraced peer was sacked from his post as ambassador to the US.
A WhatsApp exchange from that time between The Independent and Downing Street’s then director of communications, Tim Allan – in which Mr Allan responds that “vetting was done by FCDO in the normal way” – has been described as a “smoking gun” that makes it impossible to deny that No 10 was made aware of concerns in September, seven months before the PM claimed he found out.
Cat Little, the most senior civil servant at the Cabinet Office, was asked which organisations might have had access to such information and were able to share that with the press.
The Independent story at the centre of the Mandelson vetting scandal
Labour risk being ‘stonked’ in London elections over Mandelson scandal, Sadiq Khan warns
Thursday 23 April 2026 11:41 , Dan HaygarthSadiq Khan has warned the “omnishambles” of Peter Mandelson’s appointment has left Labour in danger of “being stonked” across London in the May elections.
In a stark warning to Sir Keir Starmer, the London mayor admitted Labour are having a tough time in the capital with Westminster scandal threatening the party’s foothold in London’s councils.
Describing the Mandelson crisis as “an omnishambles from start to finish”, Sir Sadiq said he was “really frustrated” that the scandal was making it harder to engage voters in the party’s local achievements.
“I’d rather be talking about that than be on the defensive talking about the omnishambles of the Mandelson saga,” he told the Financial Times.
Read the full story:
Labour risk being stonked in London elections, Khan warns Starmer
Senior civil servant dodges questions over Mandelson’s vetting report
Thursday 23 April 2026 11:29 , Dan Haygarth
Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Cat Little refused to say whether there was anything in Peter Mandelson’s security vetting report that was not made public in his due diligence report - which was published as part of the first tranche of documents in the humble address - suggesting it would compromise Britain’s national security system.
Asked whether the prime minister was "aware of all the risks associated with Peter Mandelson prior to making the appointment”, Ms Little said: "By the nature of the prime minister not seeing or being told that there were risks identified in the UKSV document, I cannot answer that question because ultimately I don’t think i can answer that question without revealing what might be different in the UKSV report but I would just go back to the fact that the prime minister did not know about the UKSV conclusion and he did not know which specific risks were identified at the time of the appointment.”
Committee chair Emily Thornberry pressed Ms Little robustly on the issue, asking: “Was there anything that was in the security vetting that was not in the due diligence report?”
Dodging the question once more, Ms Little said: “I do not want to make this any harder than it already is for our national security system, so I would prefer to answer your question by saying that it could contain more information by the nature of this being an exercise to assess different information for a different purpose”.
