UK Lawmakers Seek Veto Over Senior Diplomats After Mandelson Firing Scandal
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 8
UK Lawmakers Seek Veto Over Senior Diplomats After Mandelson Firing Scandal
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 8
Summary
British lawmakers on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee want power to block political appointments to top diplomatic posts, including ambassadors, high commissioners and permanent representatives.
The push follows former US ambassador Peter Mandelson’s firing amid allegations he leaked market-sensitive information and hid the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Committee members said the scandal exposed weaknesses in oversight of so-called heads of mission appointments, shifting scrutiny from individual conduct to the appointment system itself.