Top Foreign Office official ‘felt pressure’ for ‘rapid outcome’ on Mandelson vetting

Ian Collard, a senior Foreign Office security official, testified to MPs that he felt pressured to expedite Peter Mandelson's vetting clearance due to Downing Street contacts. He admitted he had not reviewed the UK Security Vetting (UKSV) assessment summary before briefing Olly Robbins, the former permanent secretary, and relied on an oral briefing from the FCDO's personnel security team instead.