Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US in September last year because of his close association with Jeffery Epstein. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenMandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US in September last year because of his close association with Jeffery Epstein. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty ImagesMandelson was offered highly classified briefing before he finished vetting processNewly released documents suggest Foreign Office may have begun to brief Mandelson before vetting was completed
Peter Mandelson was offered a highly classified briefing from the Foreign Office as US ambassador before he finished the formal vetting process, newly released documents reveal.
The documents were released after the Conservatives forced the disclosures about the appointment of Mandelson, who was sacked in September last year because of his close association with the sex offender Jeffery Epstein.
The initial tranche disclosed by the Cabinet Office covers the vetting of Mandelson as a potential US ambassador as well as discussions around his dismissal in autumn last year.
The documents suggest that the FCDO may have begun to brief Mandelson on classified information after his appointment – but before he was formally vetted at the highest levels. The offer of a briefing came just over a fortnight after Mandelson’s appointment had been announced on 20 December 2024.
An email dated 23 December from the head of the US & Canada department at the FCDO to Mandelson outlined his onboarding arrangements. In this email, the official states: “We’ll brief you further in person from 6 January onwards, including at higher tiers.”
An email does not formally confirm Mandelson’s developed vetting clearance until 30 January 2025, his formal offer of employment.
Mandelson was asked then to apply for an even higher level of vetting – Strap clearance – which was not initiated until 4 February. The emails suggest he would have received higher-tier briefings before either of these processes were complete.
The FCDO’s own security guidelines outlined in the formal appointment letter attached to that same email stated: “If Strap clearance is required … you should submit a new Strap application form for your new position at least three months before you are due to start at post.”
The documents also show Mandelson was offered a severance payment of £75,000 after initially asking the Foreign Office to pay him more than £500,000 for the balance of his contract upon his sacking as US ambassador, newly released documents reveal.
Exchanges in the documents released by the Cabinet Office suggested officials did “well to get this settlement down this low with minimal fuss”, after Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US.
