Politics Home | Keir Starmer Says It “Beggars Belief” Officials Withheld Information Over Peter Mandelson
(Alamy) 2 min read13 min Keir Starmer has said it “beggars belief” the Foreign Office withheld information over Peter Mandelson’s vetting failure. The Prime Minister addressed MPs in the House of Commons on Monday after it came to light that Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador despite serious security concerns and failing vetting checks. It has also emerged that the single biggest client of Mandelson’s ex-lobbying firm Global Counsel was linked to the Chinese army. Downing Street has said security concerns and vetting failures were not raised with them after Mandelson was appointed. Starmer told MPs it was “astonishing” neither he nor his cabinet were informed about Mandelson prior to securing the job. Starmer told the Commons: “I know many members across the House will find these facts to be incredible.” “To that, I can only say they are right. It beggars belief that throughout the whole timeline of events, officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system in government. “That is …
