Minister swerves question on Mandelson’s vetting when shown Independent’s text to No 10

A senior minister dodged questions on Peter Mandelson’s security vetting after being shown text messages from The Independent’s political editor David Maddox on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall was shown text messages stating David Maddox had been told by two sources that Mandelson had not cleared security vetting, sent September 11, 2025 to Downing Street's Director of Communications, Tim Allan. When asked if Allan knew there had been problems with vetting, Kendall swerved the question saying Phillips would need to ask him directly, before claiming ministers were told Mandelson had been given developed vetting status but were not told that UK Security Vetting hadn't cleared him. Kendall insisted: "If we had known that, he wouldn't have been appointed in the first place."