Starmer was kept in dark about Mandelson's vetting by two other top civil servants

"The prime minister said on Friday that it was unforgivable and staggering that senior officials did not tell him that Mandelson failed a security vetting process weeks before he took up his role as ambassador to Washington."

"Starmer says it is staggering' and unforgivable' he was not told Mandelson failed vetting."

"Their delay in informing the prime minister will fuel concern about whether his government is being run by mandarins rather than ministers."

"Romeo, who was appointed by Starmer in February, was told about the failure by Little in March."

Keir Starmer was kept unaware of Peter Mandelson's security vetting failure by top civil servants, including the cabinet secretary and the head of the civil service. The prime minister deemed this lack of communication unforgivable. Olly Robbins was removed from his position after it was revealed that Mandelson received vetting clearance against advice. Both Antonia Romeo and Catherine Little were aware of the vetting failure since March but did not inform Starmer until recently, raising concerns about the influence of civil servants over government operations.

Read at www.theguardian.com