Starmer refuses to quit as Mandelson vetting scandal engulfs UK

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to resign Friday despite mounting calls from opposition parties, as the Foreign Office’s top civil servant stepped down over a deepening scandal involving the security vetting of former ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson.

Speaking from a summit in France, Starmer said he was “absolutely furious” after learning the Jeffrey Epstein-linked Mandelson had failed a rigorous background check before being appointed ambassador.

“That I wasn’t told that he’d failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable,” Starmer said. “Not only was I not told, no minister was told.”

The prime minister said he will address lawmakers on Monday to “set out all the relevant facts in true transparency.”

Downing Street has commissioned a review into Mandelson’s vetting process as well as the broader 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 post in Washington.

In the U.K., misleading Parliament is often a resigning offense, a standard that has forced out past leaders, including Boris Johnson.

Mandelson, a longtime Labour Party powerbroker, had faced mounting scrutiny over his relationship with the child sex offender. He was dismissed as ambassador last September when emails surfaced showing his continued friendship with Epstein after the disgraced financier’s conviction.

In February, police arrested Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to accusations he shared sensitive government information.

Mandelson was later released but remains under investigation. He denies any criminal wrongdoing.

Top civil servant steps down

The controversy deepened Friday when the Foreign Office’s top civil servant, Olly Robbins, stepped down after losing the confidence of Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Robbins had led the department since January 2025 and oversaw Britain’s diplomatic service.

The crisis follows a report Thursday by The Guardian that Mandelson was denied “developed vetting,” which is one of the U.K.’s highest security clearances, in late 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 clearance against the recommendation of the U.K. Security Vetting was taken by Foreign Office officials, and that neither the prime minister nor any minister knew about it until earlier this week.

Calls mount for Starmer to resign

Opposition leaders seized on these latest revelations, accusing Starmer of either incompetence or dishonesty.

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, said Starmer had told Parliament three times “full due process” had been followed.

“We now know the prime minister misled the House,” Badenoch said. “The prime minister must take responsibility,” adding “either the prime minister is lying or he is so incompetent that he is unfit to run the country.”

Ed Davey, leader of the centrist 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 must 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 standards for government conduct.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform U.K., a right-wing anti-immigration party, said Starmer had “blatantly lied,” while leader of the left-wing Green Party Zack Polanski said: “There’s no way today should end without Starmer’s resignation.”

Starmer rejected those calls, insisting he had acted in good faith based on the information he was given.

Not everyone in his own party believes that.

For long-serving Labour lawmaker Jon Trickett, “It simply doesn’t sound credible for Keir Starmer to claim that he was unaware that Mandelson had been denied security clearance.”

Trickett insisted if the prime minister didn’t know, “it raises gravely serious issues about the way we are governed.”

The political pressure is expected to grow over the weekend, before Starmer faces lawmakers in Parliament on Monday, who will press the prime minister on what exactly he knew and when.

Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.

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