Cork man Morgan McSweeney to face UK MPs over Peter Mandelson vetting row

Former Downing Street chief of staff faces rare Commons scrutiny as pressure mounts over controversial Mandelson ambassador appointment process

Morgan McSweeney, former Downing Street chief of staff, arrives into Downing Street on October 06, 2025 in London, England. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Cork man Morgan McSweeney, the UK prime minister’s former chief of staff, has been summoned before the foreign affairs select committee as the Peter Mandelson vetting row continued to undermine Keir Starmer’s premiership.

As MPs attempt to unravel the facts, Mr McSweeney — who is originally from Macroom — is to appear next Tuesday to respond to allegations that Downing Street put huge pressure on the civil service to approve his appointment as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.