Vincent MacMaster

The Mandelson scandal continues to metastasise throughout Whitehall. We now know, from reporting in the Guardian and largely confirmed by Downing Street, that Peter Mandelson was initially refused Developed Vetting security clearance before taking up the post of British ambassador in Washington. This seems to flatly contradict previous statements made by the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. We also know that the refusal was then overridden inside the Foreign Office. The Prime Minister had always insisted that the usual checks, including security vetting, had been followed. He now, however, says he was not told of the failed vetting until this week.

In a display of candour that was as refreshing as it was deeply alarming, the Prime Minister stood at the despatch box yesterday and confirmed what many had whispered but few expected him to breathe: he knew. He knew that Peter Mandelson had maintained his personal friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein well after the financier’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child. And yet, with the nonchalance of counsel advancing an implausible brief in court, the Prime Minister sent the Dark Lord to Washington anyway. If the legislative shackles weren't enough, the administrative ones are even tighter The Prime Minister’s admission was met with hushed awe in the Commons. Kemi Badenoch had to put the same question to him three times before eliciting any direct response.