Cat Little, permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, provided key evidence on Wednesday to the foreign affairs select committee investigating the circumstances surrounding Peter Mandelson’s controversial appointment. Tasked with compiling documents in response to a parliamentary humble address demanding disclosure of all materials related to Mandelson’s vetting and appointment, Little appeared under intense scrutiny after months of internal and political tensions linked to the scandal.

Over the past year, Mandelson’s return to government has fueled parliamentary probes amid wider concerns about national security vetting procedures. At the center of contention is the role of UK Security Vetting (UKSV), which had recommended denying Mandelson’s developed vetting clearance—a recommendation that was ultimately overridden. Little, responsible for assembling the confidential documentation required by the humble address, told the committee she encountered significant resistance in accessing relevant records, particularly from Sir Olly Robbins, a former senior civil servant implicated in vetting decisions.

Little contradicted Robbins’s earlier statements by asserting that the Cabinet Office had consistently wanted UKSV involved in the clearance process and that Robbins had attempted to withhold critical vetting documents from her. She testified that, during a mid-March meeting with Robbins, she requested all decision-making audit trails related to Mandelson’s clearance, but Robbins declined to provide these. This prompted Little to make an unusual decision to obtain the vetting files directly from UKSV, despite opposition.

The session also revealed tensions over the timing of informing Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the vetting concerns. Little acknowledged a nearly three-week delay between acquiring Mandelson’s UKSV vetting report and briefing the prime minister, a point questioned sharply by committee chair Emily Thornberry. Little explained the delay by citing the sensitivity of the documents and the necessity of legal advice to determine Starmer’s security clearance for viewing them, emphasizing the civil service’s duty to protect classified information, even from the government’s highest office.

Further complexity arose around the post-dismissal handling of Mandelson’s vetting files. Little’s audit records contradicted Robbins’s claim that he was denied access to the files after Mandelson’s sacking in September 2025. According to Little, the Foreign Office’s security team requested and received several documents related to Mandelson’s vetting on September 15, four days after the dismissal. When asked why these files were requested so late, Little stated she could not recall any justification being provided.

Throughout her 100-minute testimony, Little’s composed demeanor and carefully measured responses drew both praise and criticism. While Downing Street issued a statement endorsing her performance, political observers noted that her measured approach—characterized by providing nuanced but often inconclusive answers—may mask deeper unresolved issues within the civil service and government oversight.

The foreign affairs committee, led by Labour MP Emily Thornberry, has demonstrated a persistent focus on dissecting the vetting process and the interactions between the Cabinet Office, UKSV, and the Foreign Office. Thornberry, whose committee is relishing the spotlight after years on the political sidelines, continues to press officials for clarity on decisions that have raised questions of propriety and security during Mandelson’s controversial appointment.

Little’s evidence contributes to ongoing inquiries into the vetting process and delays in disclosure, but many questions remain unanswered, suggesting that the scandal will endure within Westminster for some time.