Paul Lewis

What we've established through our sources is that there were wide-ranging concerns, some of them related to Peter Mandelson's associations before he became ambassador to Washington.

This information may not have been disclosed to the public and we essentially think the public has a right to know.

Yes.

I mean, this is the this is the question I think everyone sort of wanted an answer to, you know, that security officials thought that he shouldn't get developed vesting clearance.

So what were their concerns?

What we've established through our sources is that there were wide ranging concerns, some of them related to Peter Mandelson's associations before he became ambassador to Washington.

And I'll give you four examples.

One was a relationship with China's finance minister, Lan Foan.

Another was his friendship with Oleg Deripaska, who is a Russian-sanctioned oligarch.

A third was his association with someone called Tamir Heyman, who is a, or was, a director of intelligence for the Israeli military.

And then there was a fourth individual who is British,

that security officials felt could be compromising to Mandelson.

I suspect that the thing that is going to be the cause of most interest in Parliament will actually be his relationship with Lan, who is obviously incredibly senior.

He's a finance minister in China.

He has met with twice Rachel Reeves and once with Keir Starmer.

That throws up a whole number of questions.

I mean, was Mandelson...

involved in arranging these meetings between Lan and senior members of the British government?

Did he disclose that he had a prior relationship with this individual?

So I would imagine that that as much as all of the other concerns that we've identified were issues that were flagged by the agency will be of interest now.