CazB

It’s good news that the Strait of Hormuz has now reopened. This must be a long lasting and workable solution, without tolls or restrictions on routes. Today we announced our joint plan with France and other international partners to protect freedom of navigation. We need to see a return to peace and stability, and a permanent ceasefire.

As usual, Ciaran Martin is busy spreading bullshit to hacks. The PM is *often* told by officials details from vetting, leak inquiries, investigations by intel agencies etc. This is because the PM in our constitution is often the only constitutional authority deemed able to make a political judgement about things including risk assessments of appointments. Martin's bullshit that details are never shared is factually untrue. Often officials run through a list - sorry PM, sex pest. Sorry, being investigated by NCA for fraud but we shd keep this quiet as he isn't charged yet. Sorry, he was asked about leaking X and he lied to the investigators, a breach of the ministerial code... I've watched discussions about each of these things with the PM and officials. Martin is asking you to believe that officials can just say 'sorry PM you can't appoint X he's failed vetting' and *the PM* isn't allowed to know any details. Absurd for many reasons. I know I say ministers have become NPCs but it isn't quite that bad yet - though the likes of Martin would *like* officials to control absolutely everything. When the penetration of Whitehall by PRC intel became a huge story, Martin spread disinfo to hacks trying to make the disaster look less disastrous. He is a Remainiac Heywood stooge who pipes up for elements of Whitehall & shd not be treated as any sort of 'impartial official'. Mandelson was a political appointment. All sides agree that the PM made this appointment and made clear he was pushing it through before various checks were done and regardless of various checks already done. If the vetting people came back with concerns, *the proper action was UNQUESTIONABLY for officials to take this to the PM* for him to make a judgement about the pros/cons and risks of his own political appointment, including the 'details' which Martin is pretending junior vetting officials are allowed to know but not *the PM*. This is the only proper way for such a problem to be resolved. Ollie Robbins and Ciaran are talking crap. And so is Starmer. All systems are working as intended. Also hacks shd be asking: Who officially authorised Mandelson for STRAP clearance? You don't get to read very sensitive material, like transcripts of intercepted calls between important people, just because you've got DV - you *also* need STRAP. Either a) an official cleared Mandy for STRAP or else b) the requirement / 3+ month delay was waived by the PM, or c) we're supposed to believe Mandy wasn't shown STRAP material? So which official authorised it or did the PM waive it? When? (It's already in the published paper trail that he was told it would take over 3 months)

Ciaran Martin interesting on WATO. Says wrong to portray vetting system as pass/fail driving test. It's 'risk assessment' and officials are presented with a 'handling plan' for that risk. "The one thing you never do is tell ministers," he says, "or the system would collapse."

So Mandelson was directly appointed by Ministers?

So Mandelson was directly appointed by Ministers?