Cabinet Office Official Testifies on Mandelson Vetting Process

A senior Cabinet Office official testified before a parliamentary committee about the vetting process for Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador. The official described challenges in obtaining relevant documents from the Foreign Office. The testimony addressed several aspects of the process, including initial refusals and subsequent requests.

The official stated that a former Foreign Office counterpart refused to provide a summary of Mandelson's vetting clearance denial. This refusal occurred despite requests made in March. As a result, the official sought the information directly from the UK Security Vetting agency.

The official noted that the Foreign Office initiated inquiries about whether Mandelson, as a member of the House of Lords, required full vetting. Emails indicated that Foreign Office staff contacted relevant agencies for advice. The guidance confirmed that vetting was necessary, though the final decision rested with the Foreign Office.

The testimony revealed a lack of official records documenting the prime minister's approval of Mandelson's appointment. The official confirmed that no such document was found after follow-up inquiries. This absence was described as unusual, as records are typically kept for such decisions.

These were provided the same day by the vetting agency. The official did not specify the reason for the request.

The summary document of Mandelson's vetting process was described as approximately 10 pages long. It included the key detail that Mandelson was initially denied clearance. This document was obtained as part of a parliamentary motion requiring disclosure.

The official emphasized that due process was followed in the appointment. The testimony portrayed discussions about vetting requirements as reasonable policy conversations.

“I specifically ask to see this document and any decision-making audit trail around those judgments at the time. One source reported allegations of a cabinet split over the handling of the matter, though the prime minister has not denied such claims. The official's responses were characterized as cautious. Mandelson's links to a late sex offender were mentioned in connection with the post-dismissal document request. The testimony built on prior document releases under a parliamentary motion. The official confirmed that the vetting summary was sought to comply with disclosure requirements. No further details on the content beyond its length were provided in the session.”