Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleDavid Maddox Political EditorThursday 28 May 2026 06:31 BSTStarmer: 'I should not have appointed Mandelson'Peter Mandelson failed security vetting for the US ambassador position due to his associations with a Chinese finance minister, a sanctions-hit Russian oligarch, and a former Israeli military intelligence general, it has emerged.Security services were particularly concerned that Lord Mandelson maintained Russian business ties after the 2014 invasion of Crimea.Despite the security concerns, the Foreign Office overrode the decision, and Lord Mandelson was appointed to the diplomatic role.The revelations have sparked a political row, with questions raised about delays in publishing relevant papers and whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer misled parliament regarding his knowledge of the vetting failure.Lord Mandelson was eventually sacked as ambassador last September following further revelations about his close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, though these links were not prominent in his initial security vetting.In fullMandelson failed security vetting for US ambassador role over links to figures in China, Russia and IsraelThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in