MANCHESTER, England (CN) – Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to resign on Friday despite growing calls from opposition parties after the Foreign Office’s top civilian resigned over a deepening scandal involving the security clearance of former US ambassador Peter Mandelson.
Speaking from a summit in France, Starmer said he was “absolutely furious” after learning Jeffrey Epstein-linked Mandelson had failed a rigorous background check before being appointed ambassador.
“That I was not told that he had failed security clearance when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is inexcusable,” Starmer said. “Not only was I not told, but no minister was told.”
The prime minister said he would address lawmakers on Monday to “determine all the relevant facts in true transparency.”
Downing Street has commissioned a review of Mandelson’s vetting process, as well as the wider national security vetting system.
The dispute centers on whether Starmer misled Parliament when he said earlier this year that proper procedures had been followed in appointing Mandelson to the Washington post.
In the UK, defrauding Parliament is often a breach of resignation, a standard that has forced past leaders, including Boris Johnson.
Mandelson, a longtime Labor Party broker, had faced increasing scrutiny over his relationship with the child molester. He was fired as ambassador last September when emails emerged showing his continued friendship with Epstein after the disgraced financier’s conviction.
in February, the police arrested Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to allegations that he shared sensitive government information.
Mandelson was later released but remains under investigation. He denies any criminal wrongdoing.
The senior civil servant leaves
The row deepened on Friday when the Foreign Office’s most senior civilian official, Olly Robbins, resigned after losing the confidence of Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Robbins had headed the department since January 2025 and oversaw Britain’s diplomatic service.
The crisis follows a report on Thursday by The Guardian that Mandelson was denied “enhanced vetting”, which is one of the UK’s highest security clearances, at the end of January 2025 after a detailed review by security officials.
Foreign Office officials used a rarely exercised power to override that decision so he could take up his post in Washington.
Downing Street confirmed the account, saying the decision to grant permission against the UK Security Vetting recommendation was made by Foreign Office officials and that neither the prime minister nor any ministers knew about it until earlier this week.
Calls are mounting for Starmer to resign
Opposition leaders seized on these latest revelations, accusing Starmer of incompetence or dishonesty.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, said Starmer had told Parliament three times that “the full due process” had been followed.
“We now know that the prime minister misled the House,” Badenoch said. “The prime minister must take responsibility”, adding that “the prime minister is either lying or is so incompetent that he is unfit to run the country”.
Ed Davey, leader of the center Liberal Democrats, said: “Mandelson failed security clearance and has previously given away national secrets. Boris Johnson eventually resigned after misleading Parliament. If Starmer has done the same, he should be held to the same standard.”
The Liberal Democrats have also referred Starmer to the ethics adviser for a possible breach of the ministerial code, which sets out standards for government behaviour.
Nigel Farage, head of UK Reform, a right-wing anti-immigration party, said Starmer had “blatantly lied”, while Zack Polanski, leader of the left-wing Green Party, said: “There is no way today will end without Starmer resigning”.
Starmer rejected those calls, insisting he had acted in good faith based on the information he had been given.
Not everyone in his party believes this.
For long-serving Labor MP Jon Trickett, “it just doesn’t sound credible for Keir Starmer to claim he was unaware that Mandelson had been denied security clearance”.
Trickett insisted if the prime minister did not know, “it raises serious serious issues about the way we are governed”.
Political pressure is expected to mount over the weekend, before Starmer faces lawmakers in Parliament on Monday, who will press the prime minister about what exactly he knew and when.
Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is in England.
Subscribe to our free newsletters
Our weekly newsletter Closing arguments provides the latest on ongoing trials, major litigation and decisions in courts around the US and the world, while monthly Under the lights feeds legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.
