A senior Labour MP has written to the foreign secretary demanding answers about the vetting process for UK diplomats in the wake of Peter Mandelson’s sacking as US ambassador.
Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, has outlined a series of questions in a letter to Yvette Cooper about the appointment of Lord Mandelson and his subsequent removal over his links to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
She also urges Ms Cooper to “look again at pre-appointment scrutiny so that it might prevent such embarrassing diplomatic incidents as this from occurring again”.
Ms Thornberry writes: “It has been suggested by a number of media outlets that security concerns were overlooked during the appointments process, and that such decisions may have been taken by actors outside of the Foreign Office, perhaps senior people in No 10.
“These allegations are potentially very serious, with implications far beyond newspaper gossip.
“As chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, it is my responsibility to ensure that the House of Commons receives a thorough response to a number of important unanswered questions.”
The Labour MP goes on to list eight questions for Ms Cooper. These include:
• What security concerns were raised by the agencies undertaking security clearance ahead of Lord Mandelson’s appointment?
• What was the response of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to any such concerns?
• Was it the assessment of the FCDO that any such concerns represented a potential barrier to Lord Mandelson’s appointment?
• Was there a decision made to dismiss security concerns? Was such a decision taken by the FCDO or by No 10? If so, by whom?
• Did the usual vetting process for diplomatic appointments commence in relation to Lord Mandelson before his appointment was made public?
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The prime minister, who selected Lord Mandelson for the role, made the decision to sack the US ambassador after new emails revealed the Labour peer sent messages of support to Epstein even as he faced jail for sex offences in 2008.
In one particular message, Lord Mandelson had suggested that Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs.
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The Foreign Office said the emails showed “the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”.
Following his sacking, Lord Mandelson said he “deeply regrets” the circumstances around his departure and that he continues “to feel utterly awful about my association with Epstein 20 years ago and the plight of his victims”.
Pressure has been mounting on Sir Keir after Sky News revealed Number 10 appointed Lord Mandelson to the Washington role despite the security services’ reservations about the move.
Sir Keir’s decision to defend Lord Mandelson on Wednesday – only to sack him a day later – has caused unease and unrest in the Labour Party.
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Even before his sacking, Sky News reported that MPs had demanded that Lord Mandelson appear on British soil to give evidence on his relationship with Epstein.
Downing Street has said the prime minister still has confidence both Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff, and the vetting system despite the row.
Speaking to journalists on Friday afternoon, the prime minister’s spokesperson said: “We always keep national security vetting and other procedures under constant review to make sure they retain their position as world-leading.
“The prime minister has confidence in the vetting process. But, yes, of course, we always keep these things under constant review.”
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Asked about whether Sir Keir retains confidence in Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff, the spokesperson said: “Of course the prime minister has confidence in his top team.
“They are getting on with the important work of this government, which has seen us deliver more than five million extra NHS appointments, new NHS league tables to drive up standards for patients, the new defence industrial strategy, which has included things like the £10bn frigate deal with Norway.”
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On Thursday, Sky News reported that the lead civil servant in the Foreign Office, Ollie Robbins, had written to Lord Mandelson to ask a series of questions.
These questions included: When did you last meet Jeffrey Epstein before he took his own life? When did you last accept hospitality? What were your last business dealings with?
Sky News has contacted the foreign secretary for comment.
