Good morning, and welcome to my final regular First Edition for now. Starting Monday, I shift to writing our US briefing, First Thing, and will join World Cup coverage. I will continue setting questions for the Thursday news quiz, marking its 250th edition next week. A key question facing the country concerns whether Keir Starmer regrets appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. The Guardian yesterday published new information on security concerns raised when the former peer received clearance despite advice against it from the vetting body. Sources indicated the denial recommendation, later overturned by senior officials without Starmer’s awareness, partly involved links to four individuals from China, Russia, Israel and the UK. Officials also noted a £1m loan to Mandelson for an Israeli start-up investment. The shares appeared in the Lords register, but the loan did not. This newsletter examines the background, the latest details and remaining questions on potential national security implications. Headlines follow. UK politics: Senior Labour figures said Tony Blair’s critique of the party overlooked inequality and austerity impacts. Middle East: US officials reported fresh strikes on an Iranian military site and downed drones, followed by an apparent Iranian response at a US base in Kuwait. Extreme heat: Experts warned of outdoor swimming risks after recent drownings amid high UK temperatures. World news: The WHO chief urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to address the Ebola outbreak. UK news: Resident doctors in England plan their 16th strike next month over jobs and pay. In depth: Mandelson seen as naive on relationship risks. Peter Mandelson served in several ministerial roles before his 2024 appointment by Keir Starmer as UK ambassador to Washington. The role ended last year following exposure of ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Further details later emerged. A prior Guardian report showed Mandelson gained clearance after the UK vetting agency advised against it. Foreign Office permanent secretary Olly Robbins approved it with risk mitigations and was later dismissed. Starmer described the lack of ministerial briefing as unforgivable. Debate continues in parliament over releasing the full files. New details from Paul Lewis, Henry Dyer and Pippa Crerar show the 2025 vetting summary raised concerns over Mandelson’s contacts with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel. It also flagged a £1m loan from a businessman for investment in Israeli firm Moon Active, maker of Coin Master, which was absent from the Lords register. Officials described Mandelson as appearing naive regarding potential exploitation of past relationships. Vetting aims to assess risk rather than prove misconduct. Individuals noted included China’s finance minister Lan Fo’an, with whom Mandelson spoke several times yearly. Mandelson received China briefings in January 2025 during ongoing vetting, coinciding with Lan’s meeting with Rachel Reeves. Lan later greeted Starmer in Beijing in January 2026. Mandelson’s ties to Oleg Derip
