Mandelson vetting scandal puts Starmer under Parliament pressure

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a tense showdown in Parliament today over a growing scandal tied to a failed diplomatic appointment

At the center, how Peter Mandelson was tapped to be ambassador to Washington, a role requiring top-secret clearance

after security officials warned against approving him over ties to Jeffrey Epstein

And why that warning never reached the Prime Minister. Starmer now says he was furious to learn about it after the fact

especially after telling lawmakers proper vetting had been followed. That I wasn't told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he's appointed is staggering

That I wasn't told that he'd failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament

that due process had been followed is unforgivable. Downing Street says civil servants could have flagged the failed vetting

without exposing confidential details. The fallout is already hitting the top ranks

A senior foreign official has lost his job and is set to face lawmakers Tuesday to explain what happened

Starmer's allies call it a breakdown in communication. His opponents are calling it something else and pushing for him to step down