'Extraordinary!' Ex-Labour adviser says Keir Starmer is in a 'delicate situation' after Lord Mandelson revelation

Georgia Pearce
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:27:03 +0000

A former Labour adviser has suggested the Prime Minister could face a "pretty delicate situation" if he fails to escape the Lord Mandelson vetting controversy.

Speaking to GB News, Kevin Meagher questioned whether news of the vetting failure remained within the Foreign Office or reached Downing Street.

The reaction follows revelations that Lord Mandelson had failed his security vetting, but the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office to pave the way for his appointment as US Ambassador.

The disgraced peer, who was arrested and released earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office, was first denied clearance in January 2025.

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According to a report in the Guardian, security officials conducted Developed Vetting against Lord Mandelson, a highly confidential clearance check, to which he initially failed.

"I think until we see a smoking gun that lands this at Keir Starmer's desk, then I think the Prime Minister will body swivel out of this," Mr Meagher said.

He described it as "pretty extraordinary" if the Foreign Office decided not to inform the Prime Minister, treating Mandelson's appointment as "already a done deal".

The former adviser said the situation "speaks to a dysfunction at the very heart of Government".

He argued this pattern of mismanagement has persisted for roughly fifteen years, with successive administrations struggling at the highest levels.

"There's no green light here for Labour, they've carried on a tradition that the Tories certainly started of bungling at the very, very top of Government," Mr Meagher told GB News.

His comments suggest the current administration has failed to break from the chaotic governance that characterised previous governments, despite Labour's promises of competent leadership when entering office.

Mr Meagher explained that the vetting process exists to guarantee that diplomats, politicians, cabinet ministers, military leaders and intelligence personnel remain beyond reproach and immune to blackmail attempts.

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"And if any individual fails it, then that's really significant, and the political ramifications for it are enormous," he stated.

The former adviser indicated that documents expected to be released within the coming week could prove crucial.

"I think it's going to be very interesting to see the next cache of documents that are going to be released in the next week or so, to see if there's any of the breadcrumbs that position this pointing towards Keir Starmer," Meagher said.

He added that the Prime Minister would find himself "in a pretty delicate situation" should such evidence emerge.

Mr Meagher argued that Mandelson should never have been considered for the ambassadorship, suggesting advisers around the Prime Minister ought to have recognised he carried "too much baggage."

He noted that Karen Pierce, the previous ambassador, had been performing well in the role and there was no pressing need to replace her.

"This Government's not even in office for two years, and already we've seen it battered with lots and lots of perfectly avoidable pratfalls," Meagher said.

He described such missteps as "forced errors" that are "unforgivable" in politics, warning that governments face sufficient challenges without creating additional problems for themselves.

GB News has approached No10, the Foreign Office and Lord Mandelson for comment on the matter.