LostinBangkok

“No part of the vetting process was removed, or skipped in the case of Peter Mandelson”. That's what Downing Street told me when I reported that the govt had rushed through Mandelson's vetting. It is starting to look like yet another lie. On 30 January last year Mandelson received a letter stating: “Your security clearance has been confirmed by [the] vetting unit and is valid until 29 January, 2030." But this picture of him entering Downing Street shows he was given a DV pass weeks earlier. Now we learn he never actually passed. This is scandalous.

“Peter Mandelson’s Developed Vetting was carried out by the independent UK Security Vetting team in line with normal process.” How convenient that I should receive this response from the Foreign Office this morning as they attempt to clear up their mess. It states that Developed Vetting was completed in advance of Mandelson taking up the post of Ambassador on 10th February 2025. If this was in line with the normal process, on what date were the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary informed of the outcome?

BREAKING: Downing Street says that neither Keir Starmer nor David Lammy knew that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting - and lays blame with Foreign Office official for overruling the decision.

The 1992 general election took place on this day - result: - Conservatives 336 (41.9%) - Labour 271 (34.4%) - Liberal Democrats 20 (17.8%) - UUP 9 - SDLP 4 - Plaid Cymru 4 - SNP 3 - DUP 3 - UPUP 1