Starmer faces Mandelson vetting scandal

The political future of Keir Starmer hangs in the balance as the 'Mandelson affair' intensifies, exposing deep dysfunctions within 10 Downing Street.

It emerged that senior civil servants allegedly overruled security official advice to grant Mandelson clearance, a fact Starmer claims was withheld from him until this week.

The scandal has already claimed its first high-profile casualty with the firing of top Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins.

As Starmer prepares to face a hostile House of Commons on Monday, critics argue the controversy further erodes his government's already flagging credibility amid a stagnant economy.