Starmer faces Mandelson vetting scandal

The controversy erupted after reports emerged that the Foreign Office overruled intelligence officials to grant Peter Mandelson security clearance for the Washington posting.

Prime Minister Starmer has expressed 'fury' at being kept in the dark, but opposition leaders have accused him of a cover-up and incompetence.

The sacking of Sir Olly Robbins has sparked further backlash from within the civil service, with some officials claiming he was made a scapegoat for political decisions.

This scandal arrives as Starmer's approval ratings hit record lows amid a struggling economy and rising energy costs.