UK vetting agency flagged Mandelson's ties to China, Russia and Israel figures before ambassador appointment
By
Paul Lewis, Henry Dyer, Pippa Crerar
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
The Guardian reports that UK Security Vetting (UKSV) flagged concerns about Peter Mandelson's associations with senior figures in China (finance minister Lan Fo'an), Russia (sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska), and Israel (former military intelligence general Tamir Hayman) when recommending he be denied security clearance. The vetting agency also flagged a £1m loan as a concern. Despite these findings, Mandelson took up his post as UK ambassador to the US. The article is based on multiple sources and reveals tensions between the vetting process and political appointments.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledMandelson's links to China's minister of finance, Lan Fo'an, the sanctions-hit Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and a former Israeli military intelligence general, Tamir Hayman, were all flagged by the agency as areas of concern
United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) also flagged a £1m loan when recommending he should be denied security clearance
Multiple sources have told the Guardian that Mandelson's associations with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the UK's vetting agency
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