Speeches by Ballinger.

“So you believe that it was after the Cabinet Office and No. 10 had access to those documents that the press was made aware of these detailed national security vetting procedures.”

“So in your view, after this review is conducted, there should be some leeway for the Foreign Office to continue to exercise some judgment over postings—it should not be entirely down to UKSV in the future.”

“I feel very sympathetic to Olly Robbins. Olly Robbins—”

“So you believe that it was after the Cabinet Office and No. 10 had access to those documents that the press was made aware of these detailed national security vetting procedures.”

“Knowing what we do now about Mandelson’s leaking of sensitive Government information during his role as a Cabinet Minister, what steps did you take as the PUS to ensure that, when that became public, there was no further risk to the FCDO, or that it could be mitigated?”

“He obviously had access to all that information for many months. What steps is the Department, or Government generally, taking to ensure none of that is in future passed on?”

“I have come from the Foreign Affairs Committee sitting this morning, where we had the opportunity to speak to Sir Olly Robbins as our witness. I want to use my speech to pull out some of the pertinent points that we heard that I think are relevant. Before I start, I absolutely agree with Members across the House who sa…”

“I have one final question. You were PUS when the press first became aware that Peter Mandelson, in their words, “had failed his security vetting.” How do you think that was leaked and what do you think that says about the integrity of the UKSV process?”

“Did the intelligence services at any point share any concerns about Peter Mandelson being the appointment as the US ambassador?”

“We have heard real concerns about the process, and I am glad that the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister has announced reviews into that process, because we really need to make sure we get it right in the future.”

“I will take one more intervention, and then I will finish.”

“I had a different interpretation. Sir Olly also said—we can look back at the transcript—that, yes, there was pressure from No. 10 to get the appointment done quickly. It could be interpreted that the Government wanted to get the appointment done before President Trump’s inauguration—there was an important timeline by w…”

“Knowing what we do now about Mandelson’s leaking of sensitive Government information during his role as a Cabinet Minister, what steps did you take as the PUS to ensure that, when that became public, there was no further risk to the FCDO, or that it could be mitigated?”

“Sir Olly Robbins will have an opportunity to account for himself, but he gave a very good account of himself at the Committee this morning, and it is not for me to make that judgment. I can think of several good reasons why the FCDO and the MOD might need to use that discretion in the future. I am also really concerned…”

“That is not my experience of No. 10. I am pleased to see that there will be a review of the vetting system, because this process has uncovered serious problems within it. I have a number of takeaways from this morning’s evidence. I agree that Peter Mandelson was a terrible pick for ambassador, even before the things th…”

“Was Peter Mandelson granted STRAP access to the highest levels of classified information?”

“Let me finish. The other important point is that it was not just the UK Security Vetting system that put a borderline process through, which the FCDO then approved; it was also the intelligence agencies. It is equally concerning that Peter Mandelson was given STRAP clearance. I asked Sir Olly directly whether any conce…”

“I can speak only to what the witness told us in the inquiry this morning. Many Members made the same case that the right hon. Gentleman is making now: that it was a red box case, as we have seen in the evidence submitted. However, Sir Olly was clear that this was a borderline case, and it is usual for the Foreign Offic…”

“He obviously had access to all that information for many months. What steps is the Department, or Government generally, taking to ensure none of that is in future passed on?”

“Why has the provisional application of the treaty been delayed from April to July? Is that causing any practical problems?”