Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has defended Prime Minister Keir Starmer following revelations that Lord Peter Mandelson was appointed UK Ambassador to the US despite failing security vetting.

 

Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has defended Prime Minister Keir Starmer following revelations that Lord Peter Mandelson was appointed UK Ambassador to the US despite failing security vetting.

Jones termed the decision to overrule the security clearance, taken by Foreign Office officials, as "beyond unacceptable".

 

Key details:

Vetting Overruled: Reports indicate that while UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommended against granting clearance, top Foreign Office officials overruled this, allowing Mandelson to take the post.

Starmer’s Stance: Downing Street states that Sir Keir Starmer was "furious" and unaware that the vetting process had been overruled until early this week, only learning of it now.

Action Taken: Jones announced he has suspended the ability of the Foreign Office and other departments to overrule vetting recommendations.

Political Fallout: Despite pressure for Starmer to resign over allegations of misleading Parliament regarding "full due process" being followed, Jones defended the PM, saying the issue was a systemic "failing of the state" rather than a failure of the Prime Minister's knowledge.