The government on Thursday confirmed Mandelson - who was subsequently fired after Starmer said he had lied ​about the strength of his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein - had ​failed his security vetting before taking up the role.

The government said ⁠Starmer was unaware officials in the foreign office had overruled the vetting ​recommendation, and a source said the most senior official at the foreign ministry, Olly ​Robbins, would leave his role after losing Starmer’s confidence.

“I don’t think the prime minister can get out of his responsibility by sacking Olly Robbins. I think the buck has to ​stop with Mr Starmer,” Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey told BBC Radio.

“I think ​the evidence suggests that he misled the Commons (parliament) and misled the public. That’s against all ‌the ⁠rules, and that’s why we’ve called for him to go.”

Starmer has previously apologised for the appointment but defended his own actions, accusing Mandelson of creating a “litany of deceit” about his Epstein ties and promising to release documents on how he ​was appointed.

Senior minister ​Darren Jones told ⁠LBC that Starmer was “furious” at not being told Mandelson had failed the security vetting and would update parliament on Monday. He ​said Starmer had not misled parliament and that the process ​around it ⁠was followed, but was flawed.

“I don’t think it brings the Prime Minister’s future into question,” Jones said.

Mandelson is under police investigation for allegedly leaking government documents to ⁠the sex ​offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has not commented publicly ​on allegations that he leaked documents, and a lawyer for Mandelson did not provide a comment on ​Thursday about the vetting process.