No 10: Falklands sovereignty ‘not in question’ amid fears over US stance A Pentagon email suggested Donald Trump’s US administration could review its position on the UK’s claim to the Falkland Islands. Evening Standard · Apr 24
Ousting Starmer over Mandelson would be madness – yet it’s open season in Westminster Defenestration has become the modus operandi in politics, instead of MPs working through the real issues of the day, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins The Guardian - UK · Apr 24
McSweeney denies bullying civil servants into appointing Mandelson Starmer’s former chief of staff says he does not recognise media’s portrayal of him before evidence hearing with MPs The Guardian - UK · Apr 24
Trump mulling US position on Falklands amid frustration with UK over Iran war The US president is an ally of Argentina’s Javier Milei and Mr Trump’s relationship with Sir Keir Starmer has deteriorated since the Iran war started. Evening Standard · Apr 24
Two men made mistakes over Mandelson – only one has lost his job. That should haunt Starmer As the bodies pile up and he continues to blame everyone but himself, respect for the prime minister is draining steadily away, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff The Guardian - UK · Apr 24
Foreign Office unit tracking Israel’s potential breaches of international law closes due to cuts Exclusive: Officials warn department will also lose access to database of 26,000 verified incidents due to cuts The Guardian - UK · Apr 23
Officials requested Mandelson’s vetting details days after Independent revealed he failed Cat Little, the most senior official in the Cabinet Office, said details of the disgraced peer’s vetting were requested by the Foreign Office seven months ago The Independent UK · Apr 23
In Peter Mandelson evidence, Cat Little had the best weapon: an audit trail Where Olly Robbins relied on recollections, Cabinet Office’s top civil servant was at pains to link her account to paper trail The Guardian - UK · Apr 23
Starmer says opponents making ‘any allegation they can’ over Mandelson vetting Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is reportedly pressing for Sir Keir Starmer’s referral to the Privileges Committee claiming he misled MPs. Evening Standard · Apr 23
Five things we learned from Cat Little’s evidence to MPs about the Mandelson saga Top civil servant reveals more details of vetting process and lack of paper trail for approval of appointment The Guardian - UK · Apr 23
Senior civil servant says due process followed in Peter Mandelson vetting Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little has been uncovering documents related to the peer’s appointment as US ambassador. Evening Standard · Apr 23
Olly Robbins refused to give Mandelson vetting summary to Cabinet Office, says Cat Little In evidence to MPs, Cabinet Office top civil servant disputes that her department suggested vetting might not be needed The Guardian - UK · Apr 23
Ian Collard: the Foreign Office insider who may be key to Mandelson scandal Olly Robbins’ meeting with Collard resulted in Mandelson’s security clearance, which is now under intense scrutiny The Guardian - UK · Apr 22
The Guardian view on blaming the civil service: the predictable refuge of failing governments Editorial: Whitehall has its flaws, but reform can only be successful in a climate of trust, not fear The Guardian - UK · Apr 22
International Business Times UK · Apr 22 Keir Starmer Is Facing Calls to Resign From His Own Party Two Weeks Before Local Elections That Labour Is Expected to Lose Badly Calls for United Kingdom Prime Minister Kier Starmer to resign have begun to rise following revelations about former Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson's appointment, with Labour also facing falling support ahead of local elections.
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, to be questioned by MPs Exclusive: McSweeney summoned by foreign affairs select committee in rare step, as Mandelson vetting row continues
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 Divisions emerge in Keir Starmer’s cabinet over his sacking of Olly Robbins PM under increasing pressure over Mandelson vetting scandal as sources say ministers spoke up at tense meeting
The Conversation · Apr 22 Mandelson vetting scandal: why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US keeps coming back to haunt him. It has now emerged that Mandelson was granted security clearance by the Foreign Office, despite concerns raised during the vetting process. Top Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins was sacked over these…
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 How Olly Robbins’ knightly charm glossed over burning questions on Mandelson vetting Former Foreign Office top official’s evidence raises stark issues with ‘the system’ he was seeking to defend
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 After Starmer and Robbins, McSweeney faces a grilling on Mandelson. Can this government survive? Our panel responds The civil servant says he was pressured by No 10 to get Mandelson’s vetting done; the PM says he wasn’t informed. Who emerges most damaged?
The Independent UK · Apr 22 Starmer admits his former spin doctor was considered for top ambassador job Calls for an inquiry as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accuses PM of delivering ‘cronyism and an old boy’ club’
Evening Standard · Apr 22 Keir Starmer does not deny No 10 considered giving Lord Doyle diplomatic job The Prime Minister said there were ‘often conversations about other roles’ when staff leave roles ‘in any organisation’.
The Independent UK · Apr 22 Starmer looks less like a PM and more like a lawyer desperately trying to defend himself NEWS ANALYSIS: Starmer has found himself standing in the courtroom of public opinion, battling to save a threadbare case, says political editor David Maddox
Evening Standard · Apr 22 'Don't ditch Keir,' Cabinet ally Pat McFadden urges Labour MPs but won't say Starmer right to sack Olly Robbins Sir Keir Starmer was facing a grilling at Prime Minister’s Questions over the Mandelson vetting storm
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 Wednesday briefing: Can Keir Starmer’s premiership survive more revelations about his handling of diplomatic posts? In today’s newsletter: Olly Robbins’ appearance before MPs raises fresh questions about how key diplomatic appointments are handled, threatening to engulf the prime minister at a precarious political moment