Guardian Deputy Political EditorBluesky5h ago
Jessica Elgot
If you step back, it is truly extraordinary that so many people went to such great lengths and broke so many conventions and risked their political careers and the only outcome of all these efforts and risks was appointing a washed-up old spinner to an ambassadorial post
Guardian Political EditorBluesky23h ago
Pippa Crerar
EXCL: Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance but the decision was overruled by Foreign Office to ensure he could take up his post as ambassador to US - a Guardian investigation by Paul Lewis @direthoughts.com & me
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Revealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision
Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassador
theguardian.com
LBC BroadcasterBluesky1h ago
James O'Brien
I wonder why people who profess to be horrified by the practice aren’t shouting their delight from the rooftops…
Guardian Political EditorBluesky21h ago
Pippa Crerar
NEW: Foreign Affairs committee intends to summon Robbins over previous evidence on vetting process.
Emily Thornberry, committee chair, says: "Looking at the evidence given & the letters written, to be charitable there are glaring holes. It really is a question of whether we were knowingly misled."
Writer / CommentatorBluesky1d ago
Owen Jones
Suddenly, the neocons realise that Middle East wars are disastrous.
But there's no apology, let alone a reckoning with being so catastrophically wrong.
New column 👇
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Rest Is PoliticsBluesky1d ago
Alastair Campbell
Do check out Rest Is PoliticS LEADING for our interview with a Kyiv doctor. Also new Q and A ep out - analysing Orban defeat, looking ahead to Scottish and Welsh elections, lost art of discernment and how Rory fell in love with the Galapagos- wherever you get your podcasts
Guardian Political EditorBluesky5h ago
Pippa Crerar
NEW: Yvette Cooper only became aware that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when approached by Guardian on Thursday, I’m told.
Foreign sec then spent evening in FCDO and Downing Street with the PM where she spoke to Sir Olly Robbins. They concluded he could no longer continue in post.
Guardian Political EditorBluesky20h ago
Pippa Crerar
BREAKING: Downing Street says that neither Keir Starmer nor David Lammy knew that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting - and lays blame with Foreign Office officials for overruling the decision.
Guardian Political EditorBluesky15h ago
Pippa Crerar
BREAKING: Top foreign office civil servant Sir Olly Robbins is leaving his post.
Understand that Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have lost confidence in him after he failed to tell PM & No 10 that Peter Mandelson failed security vetting.
LBC BroadcasterBluesky1d ago
James O'Brien
Ha.
Writer / CommentatorBluesky22h ago
Owen Jones
This Palestinian family have been through hell.
Our governments put them there.
We can change their lives. Please donate whatever you can.
Guardian Deputy Political EditorBluesky1d ago
Jessica Elgot
You can see why Rachel Reeves seemed quite cross yesterday
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK economy showed surprise 0.5% growth before Iran war
ONS figure for February suggests Britain was gaining momentum before conflict dashed hopes of recovery
theguardian.com
Guardian Deputy Political EditorBluesky23h ago
Jessica Elgot
BREAKING - Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance but the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office
Investigation from Paul Lewis, @direthoughts.com and @pippacrerar.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Revealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision
Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassador
theguardian.com
Guardian Political EditorBluesky3h ago
Pippa Crerar
NEW: Keir Starmer says it's "staggering" and "unforgiveable" that he wasn't told Peter Mandelson failed security vetting - and that he's "absolutely furious" about it. He'll address MPs on Monday.
The Rest Is PoliticsBluesky6h ago
Alastair Campbell
Part 2 @therestpolitics.bsky.social mini series on populism with Liam Byrne. Part 1 was the problem. Here we try to look at some solutions. Timely given Orban decline
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Beating Populism: How To Fight Back
Podcast Episode · The Rest Is Politics · 16 April · 13min
podcasts.apple.com
Guardian Political EditorBluesky14h ago
Pippa Crerar
Friday’s @theguardian.com front page: Starmer in peril as top official ousted over Mandelson row
Guardian Deputy Political EditorBluesky1d ago
Jessica Elgot
Senior Labour figures have warned that Rachel Reeves must find alternative ways to increase military spending rather than slashing welfare, saying it risks diminishing public support for investment in defence.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Boosting military spending by slashing welfare is not the answer, senior Labour figures warn Reeves
MPs and peers say pitting defence and welfare against each other risks losing public support for increased spending on the military
theguardian.com
Guardian Deputy Political EditorBluesky3h ago
Jessica Elgot
Starmer- “That I wasn’t told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering.
“That I wasn’t told that he had failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgiveable.”
UK governance researchRSS9m ago
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sam.macrory
Thu, 16/04/2026 - 19:36
Lord Robertson is wrong to suggest welfare cuts alone can pay for defence.
4
Comment
Ben Paxton
Institute for Government
Yes
For the Defence Investment Plan to be credible,
The “welfare versus defence” framing oversimplifies the difficult trade-offs
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sam.macrory
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Lord Robertson is wrong to sugges
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
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