Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 June 2026
Letter from Dame Antonia Romeo DCB, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service on Peter Mandelson’s vetting process, dated 8.5.26
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Summary
Dame Antonia Romeo, Cabinet Secretary, responds to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee regarding Peter Mandelson's vetting process and wider security vetting reforms. The government commits to publishing further documentation via Humble Address, confirms changes to vetting procedures including pre-appointment checks and suspension of Foreign Office override powers, and establishes Sir Adrian Fulford's independent review of the National Security Vetting system, expected to conclude within two months.
Key findings
- Government will publish a second tranche of material on Mandelson vetting interactions between No. 10, Cabinet Office, and Foreign Office following Parliament's state opening and Intelligence and Security Committee conclusion
- Vetting process changes implemented: politically appointed diplomatic roles now require candidates to pass national security vetting before appointment announcement; all Direct Ministerial Appointments require formal declarations and pre-appointment interviews for Tier 1 roles
- Foreign Office's right to overrule UKSV recommendations suspended on 17 April, extended to all departments pending Sir Adrian Fulford's review completion
- Sir Adrian Fulford appointed to conduct independent review of National Security Vetting system; terms of reference to be shared with Committee in hard copy; summary of findings to be published with national security redactions
- Government Security Group conducting internal review of security concerns during Mandelson's tenure as HMA Washington; government declines to comment on live leak inquiry regarding Guardian information
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Dame Antonia Romeo, Simon Hoare MP, Peter Mandelson, Sir Adrian Fulford, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, Foreign Office
Notable line
“… the Government has changed " the process for the relevant direct ministerial appointments, including politically appointed diplomatic roles, so that in cases where the role requires access to highly classified material …”
Key Quotes
“… the process for the relevant direct ministerial appointments, including politically appointed diplomatic roles, so that in cases where the role requires access to highly classified material …”
“… immediately suspended the right for the Foreign Office to overrule UKSV recommendations pending further investigation.”
“… we will publish terms of reference, and the Government commits to return to the House on their findings and recommendations ." A summary of Sir Adrian's …”
“… the government has ' undertaken robust processes to gather all information relevant to the Humble Address .' Please let us know …”
“A summary of Sir Adrian's findings will be published, providing high-level recommendations and all relevant information that can be put into the public domain.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗