Starmer grilled over Mandelson vetting

The Mandelson vetting scandal has reached a fever pitch as Sir Keir Starmer defends his decision to appoint the Labour peer despite red flags in his security clearance.

Sacked civil servant Sir Olly Robbins told a parliamentary committee that No 10 maintained an 'atmosphere of pressure' to ensure the appointment proceeded before the U.S. inauguration.

Starmer insists the matter has been 'put to bed' by the evidence, but senior Cabinet members have reportedly expressed concern over the dismissal of Robbins.

The opposition continues to call for the Prime Minister's resignation, citing a breach of national security protocols.