Keir Starmer is at odds with ex-senior official Olly Robbins over the vetting of Peter Mandelson for a senior post. Starmer says key concerns from checks were kept from him and now calls the appointment a mistake. Robbins, recently dismissed, is preparing to challenge this.

The PM will face MPs over the row about Peter Mandelson’s involvement in Whitehall vetting. After recent revelations, he is set to give a high‑stakes statement on how the role was approved and what checks were made, amid unease in his party about the impact on his authority.

Keir Starmer faces a crunch week as MPs examine the handling of Peter Mandelson’s failed vetting. Ex-official Sir Olly Robbins is due to give evidence on Tuesday. Reports indicate two senior civil servants did not brief the PM, putting Cabinet Office transparency and accountability under scrutiny.

Peter Mandelson failed security vetting for the US ambassador post, but the Foreign Office overturned the decision so he could take up the role. The disclosure has sparked calls for an inquiry and opposition demands for the PM to resign if he misled parliament over the appointment.