Cat Little affirms due process in Mandelson vetting, says she withheld vetting summary from PM until April

The vetting process for Lord Mandelson, appointed UK ambassador to the US, faces intense scrutiny following his removal in September 2025. Concerns arose after his security clearance was granted despite adverse recommendations from UK Security Vetting (UKSV), a specialized Cabinet Office agency. This situation led to the recent dismissal of Sir Olly Robbins, former top civil servant at the Foreign Office.

Cat Little, the Cabinet Office's Permanent Secretary, testified before the Commons foreign affairs committee, asserting that "due process was followed." She clarified that UKSV makes a recommendation, and the Foreign Office then decides whether to grant developed vetting, the highest level of security clearance. This statement aligns with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's own assertion on September 10, 2025, that Lord Mandelson's appointment followed "full due process." However, Little revealed she did not share the vetting summary with Prime Minister Starmer until April 14, explaining she first sought legal advice on handling the sensitive documents. She received this information herself on March 25, after initial requests to Sir Olly Robbins for the document were unsuccessful.

Little's testimony underscores a distinction between the specialist vetting agency's advice and the Foreign Office's ultimate decision-making authority. Her account regarding the delayed disclosure of the vetting summary to the Prime Minister suggests potential communication gaps or procedural complexities within high-level government processes. This timeline further frames the Prime Minister's September 2025 statements, where he maintained due process was followed, before he reportedly saw the full vetting details. Opposition parties continue to question whether Parliament received a complete picture at the time.

Ongoing parliamentary inquiries will likely continue to examine the transparency and accountability of security vetting procedures for senior appointments.