Southport inquiry chair to review Peter Mandelson vetting process
A retired court of appeal judge is expected to review Peter Mandelson’s vetting process and the wider national security vetting system.The review, commissioned by Downing Street, comes after a Guardian investigation revealing that security officials decided Mandelson should not receive developed vetting clearance, but were overruled by the Foreign Office to allow him to become US ambassador.The disclosure on Thursday led to the resignation of Olly Robbins, the top official in the Foreign Office, and increased pressure on Keir Starmer.The prime minister and other Cabinet colleagues have claimed that no ministers were aware Mandelson had failed vetting.According to multiple sources, the government plans to appoint Adrian Fulford to lead a formal review of the vetting process.
Discussions were under way earlier this week on the terms of reference, which have yet to be completed.Fulford, who was the senior presiding judge at the court of appeal, has recently finished chairing the first phase of the inquiry into the knife attack at a children’s dance club in Southport two years ago.He sits as chair of the security vetting appeals panel, which has powers to reconsider failed applications for security clearance.Mandelson’s failed application for developed vetting clearance did not go to the panel as officials in the Foreign Office employed the rarely used power to overrule the recommendation from security officials in United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV).That decision has led to fury and confusion in Whitehall over whether Robbins, only weeks into the role of Foreign Office permanent secretary, would have unilaterally overruled UKSV.
Without clearance, Mandelson would not have been able to take up his role as ambassador in Washington, risking embarrassment to Starmer, who had selected him as a political appointee.Since the Guardian’s revelations, ministers have announced they had suspended the right of the Foreign Office and other departments to overturn UKSV recommendations.A further review of the national security vetting processes is expected to be under way soon.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said on Friday morning that he had asked for an urgent review into any other decisions to overrule UKSV recommendations.Jones said this urgent review would form part of a “broader, independent review of the vetting process”, which he was due to announce.
The Cabinet Office did not respond to questions about whether the government would commit to publishing Fulford’s terms of reference or the findings of his review,In February, Jones indicated in statements to parliament that the review of the national security vetting system would ensure government could “learn the lessons from the policy and process weaknesses related to Peter Mandelson’s case”,He also told MPs that the government would changing the security vetting processes for other political appointments, including ambassadors,Jones said: “In cases where the role requires access to highly classified material, the selected candidate must have passed through the requisite national security vetting process before such appointments are announced or confirmed,”The government may hope that such changes will avoid a repeat of the problems surrounding Mandelson’s political appointment, where the security vetting process only began after he had been publicly announced by Starmer as his pick for the ambassador in Washington.
Rachel Reeves to raise windfall tax on low-carbon electricity generators
Rachel Reeves is poised to raise the government’s windfall tax on low-carbon electricity generators to help limit UK household energy bills, the Guardian understands.The chancellor is ready to hike the levy introduced in 2022 to target the excess profits made by the owners of older renewable energy and nuclear plants as electricity market prices soared after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.She could announce the plans to raise the so-called electricity generator levy as early as Tuesday, alongside a consultation on “radical” proposals to permanently weaken the link between soaring gas market prices and the cost of Britain’s electricity for the long term.Executives across the industry have been told to expect contact from officials on Monday to set out the government’s determination that electricity costs should be protected from the surge in gas markets and be set more often by cheaper renewable sources.Currently, the overall price is set by the most expensive source of power, which is usually gas power plants
Oil price drops below $90 a barrel after Iran says strait of Hormuz is open
Oil and gas prices fell sharply on Friday after Iran said the strait of Hormuz was open to commercial shipping, potentially clearing the way for tankers holding millions of barrels of oil and gas to reach the global market.Iran’s foreign minister said vessels would be free to transit the strait of Hormuz for the duration of the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which was struck on Thursday.Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell more than 10% to $88.8 a barrel. That is well below a peak of $119 last month, but still much higher than the $72 before the war
Kenyan firm sacks more than 1,000 workers after losing Meta contract
More than 1,000 low-paid workers in Kenya have been abruptly sacked by an outsourcing company contracted by Meta, in what activists said was a shocking move exposing the precariousness of tech jobs in the global south.Sama, a company based in Nairobi to which Meta outsourced content moderation and AI training work, announced on Thursday that the workers were being laid off after Meta terminated a contract.Last month reports said some Kenyan workers involved in data annotation were asked to view content filmed using Meta’s AI smart glasses showing wearers using the toilet or having sex.The sacked workers, many involved in AI training, have been given six days’ notice, according to the Oversight Lab, an organisation that advocates for fair regulation and deployment of technology across Africa. It said it was advising the workers on legal options
UK’s OnlyFans tops $3bn valuation amid talks to sell stake to US investor
OnlyFans, the UK adult video platform, is in talks to sell a minority stake to a US investor that will value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).The London-based company is in advanced talks to sell a stake of less than 20% to the San Francisco-based investment firm Architect Capital, according to the Financial Times. Sources familiar with the process confirmed the talks to the Guardian.OnlyFans has decided that offloading a minority stake is the best guarantee of stability for a business dealing with the death of its owner, Leonid Radvinsky
O’Sullivan and Trump no-shows spoil mood before World Snooker Championship
Neither former world champion was at obligatory event as two British prospects look forward to moment in spotlightIf there were any doubt remaining that Ronnie O’Sullivan retains a gravitational pull on the world of snooker, few moments hammered home the point better than Friday’s launch of this year’s World Snooker Championship when the seven-time champion became the story without even being there.The first ball will not be potted in Sheffield until Saturday morning and the first headline has been generated by a player not in action until Tuesday. When the traditional photo of the world’s top 16 took place as usual outside the Crucible on Friday afternoon it did so without two of the sport’s biggest names in O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.Both were a no-show at the press event that the seeded players are contractually obliged to attend, with the reasons for their absence unclear. It could yet lead to disciplinary action from the authorities: not that either will be hit too hard financially
Lancashire to put matches behind paywall; Rew sparkles for Somerset on rain-hit day – as it happened
James Rew was the bright spark in a rain-ruined day. Thanks for your company, back tomorrow – bye!DIVISION ONESouthampton: Hampshire 238 v Somerset 154-3Edgbaston: Warwickshire 113-7 v Essex rainDIVISION TWOBristol: Gloucestershire 124-6 v Lancashire rainNorthampton: Northants v Middlesex 284-6 bad lightTime for me to write up again, sorry about the truncated coverage today – back tomorrow!Tom Abell wakes up the Friday evening crowd with six off a sun-glassed Liam Dawson’s second ball. And now Rew gently, so gently, drives him for four. And another. Fifteen from the over, Somerset 92 for three
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