Foreign Office Blocks Ian Collard Testimony in Lord Mandelson Vetting Investigation
The Foreign Office has refused a request from the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee for Ian Collard, a civil servant overseeing the department's security team, to appear and give evidence regarding the vetting process for Lord Mandelson.
Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the committee, confirmed the department's decision to decline the request, stating Collard would instead provide written testimony. This follows Sir Olly Robbins' dismissal last week after he granted security clearance to Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US, reportedly against the explicit recommendation of UK Security and Vetting (UKSV), and without informing Downing Street.
The government maintains that UKSV explicitly recommended against approving vetting for Mandelson. However, Sir Olly testified to the Foreign Affairs Committee that he never saw such an explicit recommendation, receiving only a verbal briefing describing UKSV's view as "borderline" and "leaning towards recommending that clearance be denied."
A review led by retired judge Sir Adrian Fulford is investigating the process, expected to examine whether Collard's briefing accurately reflected UKSV's assessment. This information is considered crucial in evaluating Sir Keir Starmer's decision to dismiss Sir Olly.
Dame Emily has submitted written questions for Collard, including inquiries into the frequency of his team's differing recommendations compared to UKSV reports. Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's former chief of staff, is scheduled to give evidence to the committee on Tuesday. McSweeney, who advised the Prime Minister on Mandelson's appointment, is expected to face questions regarding potential pressure on civil servants to expedite vetting, following Sir Olly's accusation that Downing Street exhibited a "dismissive" attitude towards the process—a claim denied by Number 10.
The vetting controversy has reignited concerns among Labour MPs about Sir Keir's judgement. At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir stated that had the Foreign Office informed him of the vetting concerns, "Mandelson would not have been committed to post."
