Mandelson vetting scandal deepens

The 'Prince of Darkness' vetting row has escalated into a major political crisis for the Labour government as senior civil servants break their tradition of discretion.

Sir Olly Robbins told a parliamentary committee that No 10 exerted 'constant pressure' to bypass high-level security checks for Peter Mandelson despite his historical links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The scandal has sparked calls for Robbins' reinstatement and led to public dissent from cabinet ministers like Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper.

With local elections approaching, critics argue the fiasco has left Prime Minister Starmer looking like a 'lame duck' and raised serious questions about his judgment.