Speeches by Whittingdale.

“When you were told that a decision had been reached and it was Peter Mandelson, did you express any concerns about that?”

“You say the Prime Minister had been made aware of the risks, but he had not, because the developed vetting had not been carried out, so all that had taken place was the due diligence. Did you ask whether or not developed vetting had taken place?”

“You will be aware that a number of very senior former civil servants have spoken about how damaging this episode has been for the civil service. As a former very experienced permanent secretary and head of the diplomatic service, what is your assessment of how this has affected the civil service, and in particular the …”

“I will follow up on one or two of the questions from the Chair. You said that the process had been under way for an internal competition but come the general election it was frozen. Once the new Government had been elected, was the process not then recommenced?”

“On Belgrave Road.”

“And you missed the operator saying “Stepney Park”.”

“Can I ask about the two notes that went to the Prime Minister from the private office about the appointment? In each case—they have been released under the Humble Address process—they are completely blank, other than the submission. There is no comment. The Prime Minister has not indicated any view. I have worked in Do…”

“A meeting took place, which led to the private secretary writing to say that that was the decision. Is there a record of that meeting?”

“But you advised the Prime Minister of that.”

“The Foreign Office must have been continuing to look at potential candidates to replace Karen Pierce.”

“On 15 December.”

“Do you think the trusting relationship, at present, has broken down?”

“So the decision was that he required DV. That was your view and it was the view of the Foreign Office security department, yet we know that prior to him obtaining DV clearance, he was given access to information that would usually require DV to have been completed. How did that come about?”

“The Foreign Office must have been continuing to look at potential candidates to replace Karen Pierce.”

“You will be aware that a number of very senior former civil servants have spoken about how damaging this episode has been for the civil service. As a former very experienced permanent secretary and head of the diplomatic service, what is your assessment of how this has affected the civil service, and in particular the …”

“But you advised the Prime Minister of that.”

“Do you think the trusting relationship, at present, has broken down?”

“You have set out why you think he was well qualified to do the job, but you have also known him for a very long time. You would have also been fully aware of the fact that he had twice had to resign from the Cabinet; that he had business interests with China; that he had a close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein; and tha…”

“You say that your discovery of the closeness of his relationship was like a knife to the heart, but the box note says that you discussed with Peter Mandelson his relationship with Epstein, and that you then discovered, as a result of that conversation, for instance, the fact that he stayed in the flat belonging to Jeff…”

“Not DV.”