Robbins told MPs that he did not see the vetting file produced by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), which he described as existing in a \u201chermetically sealed box\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, he said he was briefed on the risks it highlighted at a meeting on 29 January 2025 with a top Foreign Office security official. That was the day after UKSV had submitted its recommendation.<\/p>\n
According to Robbins, he was briefed that UKSV considered Mandelson \u201ca borderline case\u201d, and vetting officials were \u201cleaning towards recommending that clearance be denied\u201d. Robbins said he was told the case was not clearcut, and UKSV had indicated the Foreign Office \u201cmay wish to grant\u201d Mandelson clearance with mitigations put in place.<\/p>\n
But he was repeatedly questioned by MPs on the committee about the UKSV vetting file \u2013 a template of which was released on Friday.<\/p>\n
A template page from the summary document produced by UKSV after Mandelson\u2019s vetting. Illustration: No Credit<\/p>\n
They said they understood the vetting file document clearly showed that UKSV\u2019s advice was that Mandelson should be denied clearance as there was high concern, with ticks beside two key red boxes on the form.<\/p>\n
The document in question lists three rankings for possible \u201coverall concern\u201d: low, medium and high, colour-coded in green, yellow and red, respectively. In the next box, there is a space for a vetting officer to list the outcome of the assessment with their \u201coverall decision or recommendation\u201d.<\/p>\n
Again, there are three colour-coded options: clearance approved, clearance approved \u201cwith risk management\u201d, and \u2013 in a red box \u2013 clearance denied. MPs on the committee said they understood that Mandelson had received two ticks beside red boxes.<\/p>\n
Responding to questions from the Tory MP John Whittingdale, Robbins said he did not recall the briefing he received being \u201cthat definitive\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a letter he submitted to the committee before giving evidence, Robbins said he was told in an \u201coral briefing\u201d that \u201cUKSV considered Mandelson a \u2018borderline\u2019 case, leaning towards recommending that clearance be denied\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"Mandelson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776798429_196_1920.jpg\")
Mandelson vetting row: Starmer v Robbins blame game deepens – The Latest<\/p>\n
In the hearing, he reiterated his position that UKSV was \u201cleaning against\u201d granting Mandelson clearance. But he said that \u201cthe way in which it was described to me\u201d was that UKSV and Foreign Office officials had \u201cdebated some of the assessments UKSV had made\u201d which had \u201cshifted up and down\u201d before he was briefed. And he in effect conceded that he nonetheless took the decision to grant Mandelson clearance without even seeing the UKSV file.<\/p>\n
Robbins suggested that the file was a highly confidential document. He said that the usual process was not to reveal its contents to officials, except in \u201cwholly exceptional circumstances\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said his team consulted the Cabinet Office and was told that Robbins \u201crequired a national security justification\u201d to see the UKSV file and he did not pursue the matter further.<\/p>\n
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