PM sets out timeline of Mandelson appointment processpublished at 15:49 BST
Image source, House of Commons
Starmer says he was in the process of appointing a new ambassador to the US in December 2024.
A due diligence exercise was conducted by the Cabinet Office into Mandelson’s suitability, including questions put to him by Starmer’s staff in No 10, he says.
On 10 December, Mandelson answered the questions. The next day Starmer received final advice on the due diligence process, he says.
The prime minister tells the Commons he made the decision on 18 December to appoint Mandelson, and the appointment was announced on 20 December, before the security vetting process began on 23 December.
“For a direct ministerial appointment, it was usual for security vetting to happen after the appointment but before starting in post,” Starmer says.
This was confirmed by former Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald in November 2025 at a hearing of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
“After I sacked Mandelson I changed that process so that now an appointment cannot be announced until after security vetting is passed,” he adds.
