The memo of a meeting between the country’s most senior civil servants appeared to add credence to the Prime Minister’s defence.
Sir Keir Starmer was “not aware” the Foreign Office had granted Peter Mandelson vetting clearance to become US ambassador despite a recommendation against it until a meeting on Tuesday night, according to document Downing Street has released.
The memo of a meeting between the country’s most senior civil servants appeared to add credence to the Prime Minister’s defence that Foreign Office officials were responsible for clearing Lord Mandelson’s appointment without his knowledge.
But its publication by the Government came as the Guardian reported two of those present at Tuesday’s meeting, Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, and Cabinet Office permanent secretary Catherine Little, had known since March about sensitive information linked to Lord Mandelson’s vetting.
The Prime Minister on Friday said he was “absolutely furious” and it was “staggering” that he had not been informed the vetting process was overruled to clear Lord Mandelson for the Washington posting.
