Starmer would have blocked Mandelson over vetting failure, says Lammy

The claim comes as the prime minister faces heat following the revelation that Mandelson was appointed despite security concerns. Downing Street said red flags in the vetting process were not disclosed to them by the Foreign Office, leading to the appointment of Lord Mandelson to the role of UK Ambassador to the US. “I have absolutely no doubt at all, knowing the PM as I do, that had he known that Peter Mandelson had not passed the vetting, he would never, ever have appointed him ambassador,” said Mr Lammy. Starmer is due to answer questions about the scandal in Parliament…