UK: Starmer not aware of Mandelson vetting failure
UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of misleading Parliament over the security vetting of former Labour minister Peter Mandelson. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has now echoed these calls, stating Starmer 'blatantly lied' and should resign. The controversy stems from reports that Mandelson initially failed a developed vetting clearance in January 2025, a decision that was later overruled by the government.
Downing Street has officially stated that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy were unaware of the decision, blaming a Foreign Office official for overruling the security assessment.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has publicly accused PM Keir Starmer of misleading Parliament over the Mandelson appointment and vetting failure.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has joined calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation, directly accusing him of lying about the security clearance process.