Yvette Cooper has seemingly blamed Downing Street for appointing Lord Mandelson to the US ambassador post.
The Foreign Secretary broke ranks and made it clear her department had not been involved in checking Mandelson’s appropriateness for the role before it was announced.
Formal security vetting, overseen by the Foreign Office (FCDO) had only taken place after the appointment was made public.
The department's Permanent Secretary Sir Oliver Robbins and Ms Cooper distanced themselves from the process, only piling on the pressure on Sir Keir Starmer and his allies over their decision.
A joint letter from the two of them read: "The Propriety and Ethics Team in the Cabinet Office (PET) conducted a due diligence process, prior to the announcement of Peter Mandelson’s appointment on December 20, 2024 at the request of No10.
"The FCDO was not asked to contribute to that process and no issues were raised with the FCDO as a result of this process.
"This was not a security check.
"After Peter Mandelson’s appointment was announced, [the FCDO] started the ambassadorial appointment process, including National Security Vetting, in advance of him taking up his post."
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has distanced herself from the botched appointment
|PA
During a three-hour debate on the issue yesterday, Labour came under fire from all sides.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, accused Sir Keir Starmer and his Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, both absent from the Commons, of having "forced through" the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
Meanwhile, former Labour leader and Your Party co-founder Jeremy Corbyn said there was "obviously not sufficient due diligence done" in vetting Lord Mandelson.
Plaid Cymru’s leader in Westminster Liz Saville-Roberts accused Keir Starmer of putting the "special relationship" between the UK and US at risk over the Lord Mandelson appointment.
LATEST ON THE LORD MANDELSON SCANDAL
Liz Saville-Roberts speaking in the Commons yesterday about the botched Mandelson appointment
| PARLIAMENT.TVThe MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd told The Commons: "The Prime Minister staked his special relationship with the US president on the diplomatic skills of an ambassador who had a special relationship with the world’s most notorious child sex offender."
Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice has predicted that Sir Keir Starmer "may not last until May" following the emergency debate on Lord Peter Mandelson.
Speaking to GB News, the Boston and Skegness MP accused the Prime Minister of having "misled" Parliament following an "extraordinary" debate on the ex-Ambassador to the US.
He said: "It was a extraordinary three-hour debate, and I raised two issues. One is the Prime Minister's woeful political judgment, because he personally made the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson in the knowledge, with a two-page dossier summary, that he basically had links to a convicted paedophile.
"And then also I think he actually inadvertently misled the House of Commons last Wednesday, when he said that a full due process had been carried out during the appointment."
Under fire Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney is becoming more exposed through a blame game over the loss of his mentor
| PABehind closed doors at Downing Street, the crisis continues as the fallout between Keir Starmer and his Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney rumbles on.
Mr McSweeney is becoming more exposed through a blame game over the loss of his mentor, Lord Mandelson, who he tried to keep in the position until the sacking, according to Guido Fawkes.
After Paul Ovenden's departure as Director of Political Strategy following obscene messages sent about veteran MP Diane Abbott, an ally in No10 said support for Mr McSweeney is dwindling.
A Downing Street source told Guido that political staff worked "all weekend trying to piece together an acceptable timeline to excuse the inexcusable". The source added that Mr McSweeney's "f**k-up is now causing untold damage".
Leeds East MP Richard Burgon has offered a bleak outlook to the Prime Minister's future
| PAOutspoken Labour backbencher and MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon has suggested the Prime Minister's position could become untenable following poor electoral results in May.
The controversy surrounding Mandelson's removal has coincided with Angela Rayner's recent departure from her role as Deputy Prime Minister has created a pattern that has emboldened critics within Labour's parliamentary ranks.
These successive setbacks combined with failures to deal with the migrant crisis have prompted MPs to voice concerns more openly about the Prime Minister's judgement.
Reform UK's Head of Policy Zia Yusuf gave a more blunt answer: "Starmer's done."