UK's Starmer says he and ministers not told Mandelson failed clearance in January 2025

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 ‌said on Monday foreign office officials did not ​inform him, or ⁠any ministers, ⁠that they had granted ⁠security clearance ‌to former U.S. ⁠ambassador Peter Mandelson against the ​vetting ‌agency's recommendation in ⁠January 2025.

Starmer ​apologised again to victims of the ⁠late sex offender ​Jeffrey Epstein and said Mandelson should never ⁠have been appointed as the UK's ambassador to the U.S., ​adding that ⁠his judgment was ​wrong.

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