Newslinks for Monday 23rd February 2026
What's the administration thinking here?
No 10 fast-tracked security vetting for Mandelson despite known links to Epstein
“Peter Mandelson’s security vetting as US ambassador was fast-tracked despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein, The i Paper can reveal. Photos of Mandelson show he had security clearance to view “top secret” material within three and a half weeks of his role being announced, when such checks typically take several months. Insiders say the Foreign Office was asked to complete the former Labour peer’s security screening as quickly as possible to get him in post, under pressure from No 10 officials. The photographs and insider reports raise new questions about how quickly officials vetted Mandelson and whether they could have discovered his close connections to the convicted sex offender earlier. A senior Government source said that Mandelson’s vetting was done through the normal process but without the usual waiting period, because the most important roles are fast-tracked through the vetting system. A Government spokesman said: “No part of the vetting process was removed, or skipped in the case of Peter Mandelson. It is normal practice for vetting sponsors to expedite applications, and they can request that cases are prioritised based on operational deployment deadlines.” This is the first admission by the UK Government that Mandelson’s security vetting was fast-tracked, despite the publicly known concerns over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.” – The i
Evidence in Epstein UK flight investigation ‘destroyed’ – The Times
Epstein hid secret files in storage units across US – Daily Telegraph
Andrew & Mandelson should be investigated for TREASON, senior MP demands & calls for special probe into Epstein links – The Sun
Parliament ‘must launch a Treason probe into Andrew and Mandelson’, senior MP – Daily Express
Comment:
Charles, William & the royals have to convince us right now monarchy is worth sticking with… I know what they need to do – Rod Liddle, The Sun
> Yesterday:
Trott supports removal of Andrew from royal succession
Britain faces billion-pound bill if Chagos deal collapses
“Britain faces paying billions in compensation if Donald Trump collapses Sir Keir Starmer’s Chagos deal, The Telegraph can reveal. Ministers are concerned that Mauritius will sue if the Government cancels a treaty to give away the Chagos Islands, following opposition from the White House. This week, the US president changed his position on the deal for the third time, arguing that Sir Keir was making a “big mistake” and should not “give away” Diego Garcia, the joint US-UK military base there. As part of the deal, Britain will pay Mauritius £35bn over the next century to rent back the base and fund Mauritius’s development. However, Mr Trump’s intervention means the deal could be cancelled …
What's the administration thinking here?
No 10 fast-tracked security vetting for Mandelson despite known links to Epstein
“Peter Mandelson’s security vetting as US ambassador was fast-tracked despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein, The i Paper can reveal. Photos of Mandelson show he had security clearance to view “top secret” material within three and a half weeks of his role being announced, when such checks typically take several months. Insiders say the Foreign Office was asked to complete the former Labour peer’s security screening as quickly as possible to get him in post, under pressure from No 10 officials. The photographs and insider reports raise new questions about how quickly officials vetted Mandelson and whether they could have discovered his close connections to the convicted sex offender earlier. A senior Government source said that Mandelson’s vetting was done through the normal process but without the usual waiting period, because the most important roles are fast-tracked through the vetting system. A Government spokesman said: “No part of the vetting process was removed, or skipped in the case of Peter Mandelson. It is normal practice for vetting sponsors to expedite applications, and they can request that cases are prioritised based on operational deployment deadlines.” This is the first admission by the UK Government that Mandelson’s security vetting was fast-tracked, despite the publicly known concerns over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.” – The i
Evidence in Epstein UK flight investigation ‘destroyed’ – The Times
Epstein hid secret files in storage units across US – Daily Telegraph
Andrew & Mandelson should be investigated for TREASON, senior MP demands & calls for special probe into Epstein links – The Sun
Parliament ‘must launch a Treason probe into Andrew and Mandelson’, senior MP – Daily Express
Comment:
Charles, William & the royals have to convince us right now monarchy is worth sticking with… I know what they need to do – Rod Liddle, The Sun
> Yesterday:
Trott supports removal of Andrew from royal succession
Britain faces billion-pound bill if Chagos deal collapses
“Britain faces paying billions in compensation if Donald Trump collapses Sir Keir Starmer’s Chagos deal, The Telegraph can reveal. Ministers are concerned that Mauritius will sue if the Government cancels a treaty to give away the Chagos Islands, following opposition from the White House. This week, the US president changed his position on the deal for the third time, arguing that Sir Keir was making a “big mistake” and should not “give away” Diego Garcia, the joint US-UK military base there. As part of the deal, Britain will pay Mauritius £35bn over the next century to rent back the base and fund Mauritius’s development. However, Mr Trump’s intervention means the deal could be cancelled …
Newslinks for Monday 23rd February 2026
What's the administration thinking here?
No 10 fast-tracked security vetting for Mandelson despite known links to Epstein
“Peter Mandelson’s security vetting as US ambassador was fast-tracked despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein, The i Paper can reveal. Photos of Mandelson show he had security clearance to view “top secret” material within three and a half weeks of his role being announced, when such checks typically take several months. Insiders say the Foreign Office was asked to complete the former Labour peer’s security screening as quickly as possible to get him in post, under pressure from No 10 officials. The photographs and insider reports raise new questions about how quickly officials vetted Mandelson and whether they could have discovered his close connections to the convicted sex offender earlier. A senior Government source said that Mandelson’s vetting was done through the normal process but without the usual waiting period, because the most important roles are fast-tracked through the vetting system. A Government spokesman said: “No part of the vetting process was removed, or skipped in the case of Peter Mandelson. It is normal practice for vetting sponsors to expedite applications, and they can request that cases are prioritised based on operational deployment deadlines.” This is the first admission by the UK Government that Mandelson’s security vetting was fast-tracked, despite the publicly known concerns over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.” – The i
Evidence in Epstein UK flight investigation ‘destroyed’ – The Times
Epstein hid secret files in storage units across US – Daily Telegraph
Andrew & Mandelson should be investigated for TREASON, senior MP demands & calls for special probe into Epstein links – The Sun
Parliament ‘must launch a Treason probe into Andrew and Mandelson’, senior MP – Daily Express
Comment:
Charles, William & the royals have to convince us right now monarchy is worth sticking with… I know what they need to do – Rod Liddle, The Sun
> Yesterday:
Trott supports removal of Andrew from royal succession
Britain faces billion-pound bill if Chagos deal collapses
“Britain faces paying billions in compensation if Donald Trump collapses Sir Keir Starmer’s Chagos deal, The Telegraph can reveal. Ministers are concerned that Mauritius will sue if the Government cancels a treaty to give away the Chagos Islands, following opposition from the White House. This week, the US president changed his position on the deal for the third time, arguing that Sir Keir was making a “big mistake” and should not “give away” Diego Garcia, the joint US-UK military base there. As part of the deal, Britain will pay Mauritius £35bn over the next century to rent back the base and fund Mauritius’s development. However, Mr Trump’s intervention means the deal could be cancelled …
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