Peter Mandelson has reportedly been appointed as the US Ambassador despite allegedly failing his security vetting clearance. The former peer faced denial of clearance in January last year following a rigorous evaluation by security officials, as reported by The Guardian. The UK Security Vetting (UKSV), responsible for overseeing high-profile and sensitive appointments, initially declined to grant him clearance during the pre-appointment process.

Allegedly, this rejection occurred after Keir Starmer announced Lord Mandelson as the UK’s ‘Trump whisperer’. The Foreign Office intervened to overrule the UKSV’s decision, a rare occurrence. The involvement of the Prime Minister remains uncertain, adding pressure on Mr. Starmer amid increasing scrutiny of the appointment.

Lord Mandelson was dismissed in September last year after the publication of incriminating emails shedding light on his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Government has committed to disclosing documents related to the contentious political nomination and has already released 147 pages of files, with more expected to follow.

According to The Guardian, senior government officials are reportedly considering withholding documents that reveal Mandelson did not receive vetting approval. Documents are being furnished to the Intelligence and Community Committee following a motion by MPs demanding the release of all papers concerning Mandelson’s appointment.

The former Labour peer, who resigned from the House of Lords earlier this year, assumed the ambassadorial position in February 2025 but served for only seven months. In January, additional documents from the US Department of Justice’s Epstein files were disclosed, including emails hinting at Mandelson leaking sensitive information to the billionaire.

Mandelson was arrested in February on suspicions of misconduct in public office and is currently on bail. During his appointment, David Lammy was the Foreign Secretary, and Sir Olly Robbins held a top civil service position in the Foreign Office. Morgan McSweeney, Mr. Starmer’s former chief of staff, resigned in February due to his involvement in the process.

Mr. Starmer made statements at a press conference in Hastings, acknowledging a due diligence exercise culminating in unanswered questions and subsequent security vetting that granted Mandelson clearance for the role. He emphasized the necessity of reevaluating both due diligence and security vetting processes.

In a letter to the foreign affairs committee in September, current Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Sir Olly affirmed that the vetting process, conducted by UK Security Vetting on behalf of the FCDO, resulted in DV clearance being granted by the FCDO before Lord Mandelson assumed his post in February. The letter did not mention Mandelson’s reported failure in UKSV’s vetting process.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of misleading the House regarding the appointment process of Lord Mandelson. Requests for comments have been made to No10, the Foreign Office, the Cabinet Office, and Lord Mandelson’s representatives by The Mirror.