Police are investigating donations made to Reform UK by the mother of George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster, according to reports in The Times. This examination follows scrutiny of Cottrell's own financial activities.
Cat Little, the most senior civil servant at the Cabinet Office, testified before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the security clearance granted to Lord Mandelson. Despite UK Security Vetting (UKSV) concerns, the Foreign Office approved his appointment as UK ambassador to the US. Little's testimony follows the dismissal of Sir Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, over the same issue. The Prime Minister subsequently sacked Mandelson in September last year due to new information regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, stated that Downing Street explored a head of mission role for Lord Doyle, then the prime minister's director of communications. Sir Olly claimed he was instructed not to inform the then foreign secretary about these discussions, raising concerns about appropriate process and political patronage within the UK's diplomatic service.
