Speculation over the prime minister’s future dominates UK front pages after the Guardian revealed Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting
O
n Thursday, the Guardian revealed that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance, but that decision was overruled by the Foreign Office to ensure he could take up his post as ambassador to the US.
The revelation dominated the front pages on Friday, after Downing Street released a statement confirming the Guardian’s story. It stressed the prime minister had no knowledge that security officials advised Mandelson should not be given clearance, and said responsibility lay with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The top civil servant at the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins, later left his post.
In their exclusive story, Paul Lewis, Henry Dyer and Pippa Crerar revealed Mandelson was initially denied clearance in late January 2025 after a developed vetting process, a highly confidential background check by security officials.
