UK's Starmer orders review into security concerns from Mandelson's time in office

Former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson walks outside his residence, on the day that Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to make a statement on the vetting process for Peter Mandelson's appointment as British Ambassador to the United States, in London, Britain, April 20, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville

LONDON, April ⁠20 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ⁠on Monday said he had ‌asked the group overseeing security standards across government to examine any security concerns raised during ​Peter Mandelson's tenure as ⁠ambassador to the ⁠United States.

Starmer told lawmakers it was staggering ⁠that ‌he had not been told that Mandelson had failed ⁠his security vetting clearance, even when ​he ‌ordered a review into the process.

"I ⁠can tell ​the house that I've now updated the terms of reference for the ⁠review into security vetting ​to make sure it covers the means by which all decisions are made ⁠in relation to national security vetting," he said.

The British premier added: "Separately, I've asked the government security group in ​the Cabinet Office to ⁠look at any security concerns raised ​during Peter Mandelson's tenure."

(Reporting ‌by Muvija M and ​William James, writing by Sam Tabahriti, editing by Catarina Demony)