- Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has admitted that national security vetting for Lord Peter Mandelson was only conducted after his appointment as UK ambassador to Washington, not before.
- It comes after Lord Mandelson was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer following the publication of emails detailing his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
- The revelation led to an emergency debate in the House of Commons, with calls for Sir Keir to apologise to Epstein's victims.
- Conservative MPs, including Kemi Badenoch and Sir David Davis, criticised Sir Keir, questioning what he knew about Lord Mandelson's ties to Epstein and when.
- Emails showed Lord Mandelson sent supportive messages to Epstein, including telling him to “fight for early release” and saying “I think the world of you” shortly before Epstein's sentencing for sex offences.
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