How the Mandelson vetting scandal unfolded after The Independent’s story was published
Sir Keir Starmer has once again been caught in the eye of a political storm over the ill-considered appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
The latest chapter in the scandal has revealed that the former Labor member was given enhanced review status by the Foreign Office, despite the UK Security Review (UKSV) recommending against the appointment.
Downing Street has denied that anyone in No 10, including the Prime Minister, was aware that Mandelson had failed the UKSV review until recently.
But questions emerged about the extent of information in Downing Street after it emerged: Independent He informed Number 10 of allegations that Mandelson had failed to investigate last September.
Here’s how the scandal has developed since then. Independent‘s The story was published:
September 2025
The release of new documents in the US in September last year, called the Epstein files, shed further light on Mandelson’s links to the late financier.
Sir Keir said at the time that he and No 10 had been lied to by the former Labor member and removed Mandelson from his post as Britain’s ambassador to the US.
Sources stated that the issue was widely known and was already being discussed behind the scenes.
Right now, IndependentDavid Maddox, the political editor of sources in both the UK and Washington DC, was told that Mandelson had not actually conducted a clear review of MI5, but the appointment was given anyway.
He took his allegations to No 10’s then communications director, Tim Allan, who said the review was being carried out “in the normal way” by the Foreign Office.
Independent He published the story on the front page and it was also raised in parliament by MPs.
February 2026
Other files were also released by US lawmakers, including emails between Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein, showing that he passed on market-sensitive information while he was commerce secretary.
The news sparked a criminal investigation into Mandelson and saw Sir Keir once again scrambling to save his premiership as questions grew about his decision.
The Prime Minister told the House of Commons at the time that Mandelson had been cleared by a security clearance.
“During this appointment, as with all ambassadors, full due process was followed,” he told MPs, leading to him being accused of potentially misleading the House of Representatives.
April 2026
Last week, news broke that Mandelson had failed a UK Security Service review, a decision that was rejected by Foreign Office officials.
Sir Keir said he was “furious” and that it was “inexcusable” that he was not told about the sacking of the Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant, Sir Olly Robbins.
Downing Street claimed that “neither the prime minister nor any government minister” was aware that he had been granted enhanced review status, despite UKSV advice to the contrary.
At this point, David Maddox published the WhatsApp conversation he had with Mr. Allan last September, making No. 10 proved that he was informed of the allegations.
When challenged about Independent’Downing Street said in its report on Friday that it “does not accept that a media investigation is equivalent” and said: “As I have said, No 10 has repeatedly asked the Foreign Office for the facts of this case and they were never told what the UK security review recommended.”
In the House of Commons on Monday, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was the first of many MPs to ask why the prime minister had not acted. Independent posted his story on the front page and apparently why it was ignored.
Sir Keir dodged the question and replied: “Regarding media reports, Number 10 was repeatedly asked about the outcome of the security investigation and was assured that the full process was being followed.”
