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Key figure in Mandelson vetting row will not appear to give evidence to MPs

Ian Collard, a senior UK Foreign Office civil servant central to the row over security vetting for Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US, will not provide in-person evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, instead only submitting written testimony. The controversy relates to former top Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins’ decision to approve Mandelson’s security clearance against official UK Security Vetting recommendations, leading to Robbins’ dismissal, with an independent review underway to assess the vetting process and briefing provided to Robbins.