Starmer Reveals Foreign Office Overruled Security Vetting in Mandelson's US Ambassador Appointment

U.K. ambassador to Washington. Starmer stated that he would not have appointed Mandelson if he had known about the failed security checks.

He added that officials made a deliberate decision not to tell him that Mandelson had failed security vetting, and that the fact could and should have been shared with him before Mandelson took up the post. U.K. ambassador to Washington but failed security vetting for the position.

Vetting officers advised against the appointment, but the Foreign Office overruled the recommendation. Starmer learned of security concerns around Mandelson earlier in the week before April 20, 2026. The Guardian published a story on April 16, 2026, revealing that the Foreign Office overruled a decision to deny Mandelson security clearance.

Starmer fired the top Foreign Office civil servant, Olly Robbins, within hours of The Guardian's revelation last week. Robbins is expected to give evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on April 21, 2026. During the April 20 session, Reform UK MP Lee Anderson accused Starmer of lying about Mandelson's appointment and was removed from the House of Commons by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle after refusing to withdraw the remark.

Mandelson was fired nine months into the ambassador job over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer fired Mandelson in September 2025 after evidence emerged that Mandelson lied about the extent of his links to Epstein. U.S.

Department of Justice in January 2026. The documents included emails suggesting Mandelson passed sensitive government information to Epstein in 2009. Mandelson was arrested in February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Mandelson has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct. Jeffrey Epstein died in prison in 2019. Mandelson served as a former European Union trade chief.