Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting: a timeline of the controversy

Starmer’s disastrous decision to make New Labour veteran the US ambassador has led to months of political outcry

Keir Starmer is facing calls to resign after the Guardian revealed that Peter Mandelson failed the developed vetting process over his appointment as US ambassador – but was able to take up the post after the Foreign Office overruled the recommendation.

Here is the timeline of Mandelson’s controversial appointment and the fallout it has caused.

Labour wins a landslide election victory engineered by Mandelson’s protege Morgan McSweeney, of whom Mandelson once said: “I don’t know who and how and when he was invented. But whoever it was, they will find their place in heaven.” Mandelson said the election win was “an extraordinary achievement for Keir Starmer and his team”.

Mandelson courts ministers in the new government providing informal advice to cabinet members and officials in No 10. He exchanges dozens of friendly WhatsApp messages with the health secretary, Wes Streeting, often signing them off with an X.