A former senior Foreign Office official told lawmakers that he was instructed to move ahead with appointing Peter Mandelson despite raising concerns during the vetting process, including issues connected to Mandelson’s associations and the potential political fallout. According to his testimony, he was effectively told to “get on with it,” signaling that the decision had already been made at higher levels and that standard caution around security clearance and reputational risk was being overridden.

The disclosure has fueled criticism that the appointment process was rushed and that proper scrutiny was sidelined in favor of political priorities. Officials acknowledged that red flags existed but indicated there was little willingness to delay or reconsider the decision, even with Epstein-related concerns lingering in the background. The episode has since raised broader questions about how seriously vetting procedures are taken when they conflict with political objectives, and whether accountability mechanisms within the government were bypassed.


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Former foreign office chief was told to ‘get on’ with appointing Mandelson despite his worries over links with Epstein | LBC