Sir Keir Starmer was "not aware" the Foreign Office had granted Lord Peter Mandelson vetting clearance against recommendations until a meeting on Tuesday night, according to an email from the prime minister’s principal private secretary (PPS).
Downing Street on Friday released a "readout" of the meeting, which was sent via email by Starmer’s PPS Dan York-Smith on Wednesday, summarising discussions said to have involved the Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo and permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office Catherine Little.
The memo appeared to add credence to the PM’s defence that Foreign Office officials were responsible for clearing Mandelson’s appointment without his knowledge.
Starmer on Friday said it was "staggering" and "unacceptable" that he was not told the former US ambassador had failed his security vetting.
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