\n Yet the furor over Starmer\u2019s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson<\/a> \u2013 whose close ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein would be detailed in files released by the US Department of Justice \u2013 as Britain\u2019s ambassador to the United States is once again threatening to engulf his premiership.\n <\/p>\n \n Now, he faces a crucial week navigating the latest fallout from the scandal, after it emerged on Thursday that Mandelson had failed in-depth security vetting conducted before his appointment in early 2025. Citing multiple sources, the Guardian<\/a> reported that officials at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office then used a rare authority to override that recommendation, since Starmer had already announced Mandelson\u2019s appointment.\n <\/p>\n \n Starmer insists he was unaware of the failed vetting, telling reporters on Friday he was \u201cabsolutely furious\u201d he had not been told.\n <\/p>\n \n In an attempt to quell the scandal, Downing Street effectively fired the Foreign Office\u2019s top official, civil servant Olly Robbins, while briefing<\/a> media that his department had not informed Starmer of Mandelson having failed the security vetting.\n <\/p>\n \n But that has not halted the questions leveled against the government by opposition lawmakers and its own backbenchers. And Starmer faces further challenges this week: He is set to address parliament about the scandal on Monday, while Robbins will testify in front of a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.\n <\/p>\n \n There, Robbins will be questioned over his earlier assertion that Mandelson\u2019s \u201csecurity vetting was conducted to the usual standard set for Developed Vetting in line with established Cabinet Office policy.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n What Robbins says on Tuesday will determine the next chapter of this affair. The Financial Times reported Sunday that he is taking legal advice and \u201cfeels aggrieved over his dismissal,\u201d citing people close to him.\n <\/p>\n \n All this comes only weeks ahead of local elections in which Starmer\u2019s Labour Party is expected to suffer heavy losses. If ever someone were to mount a leadership challenge against Starmer, as the conventional thinking went before the war with Iran unleashed huge geopolitical uncertainty, it would come after those elections. So, the most damaging scandal of Starmer\u2019s premiership rears its head again at a profoundly unstable time for the government.\n <\/p>\n \n Still, key ministers have publicly defended Starmer, indicating he retains some measure of support within his cabinet. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the Guardian<\/a> on Saturday that Starmer would \u201cnever ever have appointed\u201d Mandelson had he known about the former ambassador\u2019s failure to pass security vetting.\n <\/p>\n \n Technology minister Liz Kendall echoed that message on Sunday, telling Sky News<\/a> that Starmer is a \u201cman of integrity\u201d who would have reversed course if required.\n <\/p>\n \n But his political opponents say the latest revelations are further evidence of a serious judgement lapse by Starmer and have called on him to resign, claiming he misled parliament when previously detailing the process before Mandelson\u2019s appointment as having followed standard procedure.\n <\/p>\n![\"Olly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2019-01-28t145354z-174173990-rc1b87a0fa80-rtrmadp-3-britain-eu.jpg\")
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