Morgan McSweeney to testify on Peter Mandelson ambassador vetting process
Morgan McSweeney, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, will testify before MPs about his role in appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US. The hearing comes amid controversy over Mandelson's security vetting process.
Morgan McSweeney, who recently stepped down as Keir Starmer's chief of staff, will appear before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday morning to answer questions about Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the United States.
The hearing follows claims that Mandelson was given sensitive briefings before completing his security clearance. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Starmer of "leaning on Olly Robbins" and said Mandelson received classified information without proper vetting.
Starmer defended the process, saying it was normal procedure because Mandelson is a Privy Councillor and member of the House of Lords. The Prime Minister later claimed officials "deliberately withheld" Mandelson's vetting results from him.
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the PM, rejected claims that the Cabinet Office suggested Mandelson didn't need security vetting. Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh criticized the appointment as showing damage from Starmer's "fetish for worst elements of New Labour."
Badenoch has been granted an emergency parliamentary debate on the matter.
This affects how Britain picks its top diplomats and whether proper security checks were followed. The US ambassador role is crucial for UK trade deals, defense partnerships, and economic ties with America.
McSweeney testifies Tuesday morning, followed by Badenoch's emergency parliamentary debate on the vetting controversy.
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