Committee publication · Correspondence · 18 November 2025

Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary following up on the oral evidence session on 03 November 2025, dated 11 November 2025

Inquiry: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Summary

Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald writes to the Foreign Affairs Committee following his 3 November oral evidence, enclosing the previous version of Direct Ministerial Appointments guidance and addressing further questions about Lord Mandelson's appointment. The government declines to share additional information beyond its previous letter, citing the longstanding confidentiality of advice to the Prime Minister, while confirming the due diligence report included summary of reputational risks and Epstein-related information.

Key findings

The updated Direct Ministerial Appointments guidance (June 2024) was not previously published on gov.uk; decision to publish updated version reflects government commitment to appointment standards.
Due diligence report on Lord Mandelson's appointment included summary of previous ministerial resignations and prior relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, but material that subsequently emerged showed the relationship was materially different from what was known at appointment.
Prime Minister has stated Mandelson would not have been appointed had current information been available at the time of his appointment.
Government refuses to disclose information beyond previous letter, citing longstanding principle under multiple administrations that advice to the Prime Minister remains confidential.
Permanent Under-Secretary at FCDO will separately respond regarding appointments of Sir George Hollingbery and Lord Llewellyn.

Government position

Rejects further disclosure. Government states it would not be appropriate to share information beyond that contained in the Cabinet Secretary's previous 30 October letter to PACAC. Rationale: longstanding principle across administrations protecting the confidentiality of advice to the Prime Minister; disclosure already made goes beyond usual practice to enable committee understanding of the process followed.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-appointmentsgovernanceministerial-conducttransparency

Key actors

Sir Chris Wormald, Dame Emily Thornberry, Lord Mandelson, Prime Minister, Jeffrey Epstein, Sir George Hollingbery, Lord Llewellyn, Cabinet Office

Notable line

“He would not have been appointed if the information we have now was available at the time.”

Key Quotes

“… it is the Government's decision that it would not be appropriate to share any information beyond that which is contained in my previous letter”
— Sir Chris Wormald · responding to committee request for more information about Mandelson due diligence

“… the due diligence report included "a summary of reputational risks, including his previous resignations as a minister, and his prior relationship with Jeffrey Epstein"”
— Sir Chris Wormald · clarifying scope of due diligence conducted

“… it was the material which subsequently emerged which showed that the nature and extent of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”
— Sir Chris Wormald · explaining the difference between information available at appointment and information that emerged later

“… there is a longstanding principle under multiple administrations that advice to the Prime Minister remains confidential”
— Sir Chris Wormald · justifying refusal to share additional due diligence details

View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗