Former British ambassador Peter Mandelson failed a security check before taking up the role, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer was unaware that officials had ignored the recommendation, the government said on Thursday.
“Neither the prime minister, nor any government minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was given a review carried out against the advice of the UK Security Inquiry until earlier this week,” a government spokesman said in a statement.
The decision was taken by officials in the foreign ministry, the spokesman added.
The revelation of the vetting failure increases pressure on Starmer over her nomination of Mandelson, who is under police investigation for allegedly leaking government documents to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, prompting fresh calls for him to resign.
Starmer has apologized for the appointment but defended his own action, accusing Mandelson of creating a “hoax” about his relationship with Epstein and promising to release documents on how he was appointed.
The Guardian had reported earlier on Thursday that the failed security checks came after Mandelson’s nomination was announced.
