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Morgan McSweeney to take questions from MPs amid Lord Mandelson vetting scandal
The committee also called Cat Little, Ian Collard and Sir Philip Barton after MPs raised questions over security clearance and Downing Street pressure.
- Former chief of staff to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Morgan McSweeney, has been summoned to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee next Tuesday amid the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal.
- McSweeney resigned in February over his role in the peer's appointment to the Washington ambassador post, which proceeded despite vetting officials recommending against granting high-level security clearance.
- Cabinet Office civil servant Cat Little will testify on Thursday morning, having revealed she discovered the security clearance approval for Lord Mandelson occurred despite official objections.
- Following testimony from Sir Olly Robbins on Tuesday, committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry also summoned Ian Collard and Sir Philip Barton to provide evidence.
- These hearings aim to clarify vetting failures surrounding the appointment, as MPs investigate why security recommendations were bypassed for the ambassadorial role.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Austen Morgan: We now know more than we did about the Mandelson affair - so what happens next?
Dr Austen Morgan is a barrister at 33 Bedford Row Chambers. He is the author of: Pretence: why the United Kingdom needs a written constitution, London 2023. Enter stage left: Sir Keir Starmer, a north London human rights lawyer, and a slip of a prime minister. Enter stage right: Sir Olly Robbins, the sacked foreign office permanent secretary, and nemesis of the former. After three days of preliminary skirmishes in parliament, where are we on th…
PM trapped in Mandelson row as officials rage and cabinet discomfort grows
Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News Will the Prime Minister ever escape his decision to appoint the ‘Prince of Darkness’ Lord Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington? With fresh committee hearings looming – including an appearance from Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little -and senior ministers appearing uncomfortable defending No10 on the airwaves, Sam…
Senior civil servant faces Mandelson questions from MPs amid ‘Cabinet divisions’
Cabinet divisions have emerged over Sir Keir’s handling of the process, according to multiple reports. A senior civil servant is set to be questioned about Lord Peter Mandelson’s vetting process, as Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting criticism from within in his own party over the scandal. After Sir Olly Robbins appeared before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday to give damning evidence about the role Downing Street played in the appoi…
Starmer handler McSweeney to be dragged from shadows by Foreign Affairs Committee
Keir Starmer’s disgraced long-time handler Morgan McSweeney has been called to give evidence to the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee. The call comes after former top Foreign Office civil servants told the committee that McSweeney had told them to ignore vetting and “just fucking approve” Keir Starmer’s appointment of disgraced paedophile’s pal — and McSweeney’s mentor — Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the UK. McSweeney was previously alw…
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