Security Vetting

Lord Harris of Haringey Excerpts

Monday 20th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

My Lords, I think the Prime Minister received a number of items of advice. He receives advice every day on different issues. That has been investigated since and the then Cabinet Secretary said that the appropriate, right process had been followed.

[Lord Harris of Haringey (Lab)]

My Lords, like my noble friend Lord Roe, I have been through the developed vetting process. It is intrusive and extremely thorough, going line by line through your bank statements, with detailed and intensive questions about personal relationships and everything else. I was doing so for a ministerial appointment. It was made quite clear in writing that if I failed the vetting process, I could not be appointed or continue in that role. I have also chaired a public body where one of our committee failed the vetting process and was removed from office. Are ambassadors in some way separate from that process? I think that is the question that noble Lords would like answered.

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

Yes, there is a difference, although the process undertaken by UKSV may be very similar. A summary is provided, but it is not a pass or fail. It will look at concerns, whether low, moderate or high. On the overall decision, it can approve clearance, it can approve it with risk management, or it can be denied. The difference here is that the Foreign Office, on getting that recommendation, did not have to follow it. It did, and was able to, override it. The concern is that it did not inform Ministers of the outcome of the vetting. What has caused Ministers most concern is that, at the various opportunities there were to inform them that, although vetting was granted, it was against the recommendation of UKSV, the information was never passed on.