I have just been contacted by a source who knows much more about what happened with Peter Mandelson’s vetting. It supports the case that I made in my summary of the case last night and Sam Coates made in his thread yesterday that the crucial decision was Keir Starmer’s political decision to appoint him. In essence, Oliver Robbins was rubber stamping a decision which had already been made.

Things are much less clear cut than Downing Street has been claiming for the last three days

Things are much less clear cut than Downing Street has been claiming for the last three days

I have heard too from an ally of Mandelson who believes Robbins’ dismissal was ‘egregious’ for exactly the reasons which follow.

Some in Whitehall naturally objected to a political appointment from the outset but by no means everyone in Whitehall did so. Many saw the point of appointing a political heavyweight (who might win a trade deal, get the Chagos deal over the line and help negotiate a UK US technology deal). In so far........

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