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Lucy Hough

๐Ÿ‘ค Speaker
600 total appearances

Appearances Over Time

Podcast Appearances

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

How do these two things interlink?

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Yes, it speaks to something about unelected officials making these very, very significant decisions, doesn't it?

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Sir Ollie Robbins, who was former Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Office, the FCDO, resigned very late last night over this, effectively taking the hit for the Foreign Office's decision not to disclose this or to withhold this information.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Forced to do it.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

But what are we hearing from Keir Starmer himself, who's been quizzed about this in Paris this morning, but also his chief secretary, Darren Jones, who was quizzed about this on the BBC this morning, because they're saying they really did not know about the existence of this failed vetting procedure.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

So Keir Starmer will be addressing MPs in the Commons on Monday.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

As we understand from that interview this morning with Darren Jones, he sort of requested the full picture about what's gone on here.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Dita's own MPs, who it seems in large numbers found out about this as the Guardian exclusive dropped last night.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

I mean, Paul, obviously, this has become a political story in lots of ways.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

And certainly that's the sort of splash on the front pages of much of the newspapers this morning.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

But there's something bigger at play here.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

And I wonder what you think those questions are as head of investigations.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Well, Paul, so much further to go with this story.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

But thank you to you, Pippa and Henry, for such a fantastic piece of reporting and well done on the scoop.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Thank you for your time.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Thank you.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

That's it for today.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

My huge thanks again to Paul Lewis, The Guardian's Head of Investigations.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Do read The Guardian's ongoing coverage of this story, including yesterday's exclusive written by Paul alongside our political editor, Bipa Kriera, and investigations correspondent, Henry Dyer.

Today in Focus
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

Find all of that and more coverage over at theguardian.com.