Keir Starmer has said it is “unforgivable” and “staggering” that he was not informed Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting, as questions mount over the handling of the appointment.
Speaking to reporters in Paris, the prime minister said he had not been told about the failed clearance at the time he was informing Parliament that due process had been followed.
He said: “That I wasn’t told that he’d failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable.”
Starmer added that the failure to inform extended beyond his office.
“Not only was I not told, no minister was told and I’m absolutely furious about it,” he said.
He said it was “totally unacceptable” that a prime minister making an appointment was not made aware that security vetting had failed.
The prime minister confirmed he would present “all the relevant facts in true transparency” to Parliament on Monday.
Reports suggest Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was also unaware that Mandelson had failed vetting until the story emerged publicly on Tuesday afternoon, despite Starmer ordering an investigation into what the Foreign Office knew.
The development has prompted political reaction, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey calling for the Privileges Committee to investigate whether Starmer misled Parliament.
The committee has previously examined whether ministers have misled MPs, including in the case that led to Boris Johnson resignation as an MP following the Partygate inquiry.
However, the prime minister Chief Secretary has said Starmer will not resign, stating he did not knowingly or unknowingly mislead Parliament and remains focused on leading the country through current challenges.