- Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, admitted a "serious error of judgement" regarding his advice to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
- McSweeney, who resigned in February, told the Foreign Affairs Committee he was wrong to support the appointment but denied asking officials to bypass vetting procedures.
- Sir Philip Barton, the then-top Foreign Office civil servant, revealed he was not consulted by the Prime Minister about Mandelson's appointment.
- Barton stated he was only informed of the decision on 15 December 2024, just days before Sir Keir Starmer publicly announced it.
- The Prime Minister is set to face a crucial vote on whether to launch an inquiry into allegations he misled parliament over the appointment saga.
IN FULL