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."
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.
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Sadiq Khan accuses Donald Trump of 'fanning the flames of far-right politics' ahead of State visit
Sadiq Khan has long been a critic of Donald Trump
| PASir Sadiq Khan has once again launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, accusing the President of "divisive far right politics."
Writing in The Guardian, the London Mayor said: "President Donald Trump and his coterie have perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-Right politics around the world in recent years.
"When he came to the UK on his first state visit, I highlighted how the president had deliberately used xenophobia, racism and ‘otherness’ as an electoral tactic, introducing a travel ban on a number of Muslim-majority countries and praising white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia.
"Six years later, the tactics we see from today’s White House seem no different.
"Scapegoating minorities, illegally deporting US citizens, deploying the military to the streets of diverse cities. These actions aren’t just inconsistent with western values, they’re straight out of the autocrat’s playbook."
Penny Mordaunt plotting comeback to take on Reform UK
Former House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt is planning a comeback to Westminster as a Tory "foot soldier" to fight the rise of Reform UK.
Dame Penny, who lost her Portsmouth North seat to Labour's Amanda Martin at last year's General Election by just 780 votes, has long been tipped as a potential future leader of the party.
She told ITV last night: "I’m filling out my application form to get on the candidates list, and I hope many others do as well.
"I’m a foot soldier now and I’ll do whatever I can from where I am to help Kemi [Badenoch] and the party.
"Being a Conservative at the moment is no fun. I can think of much more fun things to do, but I can’t think of anything more important to do.
"We’ve got to do the hard yards at building back a policy platform that’s actually going to do what the public needs us to do."
WATCH: Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Julia Lopez speaks to GB News about the new tech deal
Two Labour MPs denied entry to Israel after travelling to occupied West Bank
Two Labour MPs travelling to the West Bank as part of a UK parliamentary delegation said they were denied entry to Israel.
MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket Peter Prinsley and MP for Stroud Simon Opher said they were travelling as part of a visit organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding.
The pair were there to observe medical and humanitarian work carried out by various organisations, including Medical Aid for Palestinians.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "It is totally unacceptable and deeply concerning that yet again two British MPs have been denied entry to the occupied Palestinian territories by Israel.
"Minister [Hamish] Falconer and officials have remained in contact with the MPs affected throughout. We are clear with Israel that this is no way to treat British Parliamentarians."
It comes after a United Nations commission of inquiry says Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
WATCH: Sir Ed Davey calls on Conservatives and Nigel Farage to apologise over migrant crisis failures
Former Reform MP faces investigation over claims he used social media to 'facilitate racism'
Former Reform UK MP James McMurdock is facing a probe
| GB NEWSA probe has been launched into a former Reform UK MP over claims that he used social media to "facilitate racial abuse."
South Basildon and East Thurrock MP James McMurdock, who suspended himself from the party over separate allegations about loans during the pandemic, is facing an investigation by Parliament’s standards commissioner.
Mr McMurdock was accused of starting a so-called "N-tower" on social media, a way of spelling out a racist slur without being subject to a platform’s content-moderation practices.
Speaking to Times Radio, he said he would cooperate with the investigation, which follows a complaint by a fellow MP. "I’ll respond and they’ll clear it," he added.
Ed Davey says Donald Trump is 'no longer a reliable ally' ahead of boycott
Sir Ed Davey said he can no longer say the President of the United States is "a reliable ally."
The leader of the Liberal Democrats told GB News saying that boycotting Donald Trump’s lavish state banquet is the best way to send a message to the US president about Gaza.
When asked on The People's Channel why he decided to boycott the event, he said: "We have to use every card and trick to try to get Trump to do the right thing."
WATCH: Richard Tice reacts to Parliament debate on Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
Reform UK surges in bombshell new poll as Labour left reeling in third
A new poll has suggested Reform UK’s popularity has surged in wales, leapfrogging Labour into second place, closely behind Plaid Cymru.
The YouGov Poll for ITN has Plaid Cymru holding their top spot at 30 per cent of the vote share compared with the last polling in May this year, while Reform now sit in close second place with 29 per cent.
Labour, who currently control the Senedd are in third on 14 per cent with the Conservatives falling behind to fourth on 11 per cent.
Dr Jac Larner, from Cardiff University's Welsh Governance Centre, told ITN: "Reform UK's growth is built primarily on Conservative defections, with most of their support coming from previous Tory voters, alongside a smaller but notable number of former Labour supporters.
"Labour, meanwhile, is losing voters on multiple fronts, primarily to Plaid and the Greens, but also to a lesser extent to Reform, indicating broader challenges in holding together their traditional coalition."
Embattled Keir Starmer to face voters in 48 hours as pressure mounts on him to resign
Sir Keir Starmer's party is coming under pressure as Labour faces a series of by-election tests
| PAVoters are poised to deliver their verdict on the current crisis gripping No10 on Thursday as Labour will be defending seats in Brighton & Hove, Cardiff and Warwick.
Thursday will also see the first electoral test for new Green Party leader Zack Polanski, as his insurgent party is defending a seat in Warwick. This brings the total seats up for grabs to five.
Could Reform make a surprise gain, the Greens come out on top, the Tories make a comeback or will Labour survive the storm?
Labour minister insists 'one in, one out' deal still going ahead
A High Court decision temporarily blocking the deportation of an Eritrean man will not prevent the Government’s "one in, one out" deal with France going ahead, a Cabinet minister has insisted.
Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary, told Times Radio she would not comment on "operational details", but said: "This is one person, it is not going to undermine the fundamental basis of this deal."
She added: "This decision is disappointing, but it won’t prevent the rest of that deal going ahead."
Plaid Cymru's leader in Westminster takes aim at Labour
Liz Saville-Roberts speaking in the Commons
|PARLIAMENT.TV
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.
The 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."
Inflation shock: CPI rate remains at 3.8% as Rachel Reeves 'failing to grow the economy'
Inflation has remained at its current level ahead of tomorrow's interest rate announcement from the Bank of England.
The consumer price index (CPI) rate of inflation rose to 3.8 per cent for the 12 months to August 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This is lower than expectations, but signals further cuts to the base rate may not happen this year.