UK Prime Minister Faces Calls to Resign Over Lord Mandelson Vetting Scandal

The UK government has stated that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was not aware that Lord Mandelson had failed security vetting for the role of US ambassador until earlier this week. A spokesperson said the decision to allow Lord Mandelson to take up the role despite failing the vetting was made by officials in the Foreign Office.

Sir Keir Starmer has faced calls to resign over allegations that he misled Parliament and MPs when he claimed 'full due process' was followed during the appointment. The Ministerial Code states that ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign.

Background

Lord Mandelson was announced as the UK's ambassador to the US in December 2024, before in-depth vetting had been carried out, and formally took up the role on 10 February 2025. He was later sacked as ambassador over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

During Prime Minister's Questions on 10 September 2025, Sir Keir said three times that 'full due process' was followed for the appointment. However, it has been reported that Lord Mandelson was initially denied security clearance in late January 2025, but this was overruled by the Foreign Office to ensure he could take up the post.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for the PM to resign, stating that Sir Keir either knew about Lord Mandelson's failed vetting and lied to Parliament, or he didn't know and is 'hopelessly incompetent'. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has also called for the PM's resignation, saying that if Sir Keir was not aware of the failed vetting, he should have informed Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

Reactions and Investigations

Reform UK, the Green Party, and Plaid Cymru have also called for the prime minister to go, accusing him of lying about Lord Mandelson's vetting. The Scottish National Party has written to the independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, calling for an investigation into whether the PM deliberately misled the public.

A government spokesperson said that once the prime minister was informed about the vetting, he immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why the Developed Vetting was granted, in order to update the House of Commons. The Foreign Office said it was 'working urgently' to comply with the PM's request to establish the facts.

Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said she felt she was 'misled' by the top official at the Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins, when he gave evidence to her committee last November about Lord Mandelson's vetting.