Oly Duff
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Oly Duff
@olyduff
Editor-in-chief @theipaper | https://t.co/KmM4s9Yl9U | 2025 UK News Website of the Year | 2024 UK Newspaper of the Year | Unique pledge on politics | @olyduff.bsky.social




"I was so angry I threw my phone at the wall." Journalist @kitty_donaldson reveals how relationships between Number 10 and the press corps breaks down. When the Government starts lying, the "vicious cycle" begins. @StraightTie | @CalumAM

"I was so angry I threw my phone at the wall." Journalist @kitty_donaldson reveals how relationships between Number 10 and the press corps breaks down. When the Government starts lying, the "vicious cycle" begins. @StraightTie | @CalumAM




Last month, when @kitty_donaldson and I reported that Peter Mandelson's vetting was rushed through under pressure from No 10, the Government said the allegations were "false". We stood by our reporting and published our findings. Today's release of files has well and truly vindicated us. Downing Street's own receipts show us: - No10 officials pressured the Foreign Office to work at "pace" to clear Mandelson before Trump's inauguration, - Mandelson was vetted in a (roughly) three week window, - He was briefed on classified material before completing his vetting, - The govt's own National Security Advisor said the process was "weirdly rushed", - Mandelson needed to obtain one of the highest levels of security clearance within six days - usually a three month process. I'm struggling to see what, if anything, was "false".












