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Foreign Affairs Committee @CommonsForeign

We are a cross-party group of @HouseofCommons MPs scrutinising the policies of the @FCDOGovUK and its associated bodies. See what we're working on👇

Joined November 2012
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In our session on the Integrated Security Fund, @LordMcConnell told us that funding cuts and a lack of strategy and prioritisation is impacting the UK's ability to support peacebuilding and be a reliable long-term partner.
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Find out more: committees.parliament.uk/com…
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Disinformation has the power to seriously harm our democracy. The government has said it wants to combat disinformation, and is taking steps to do so. But the we think it should be going further and doing more 🧵
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The Foreign Affairs Committee has criticised the Government response to its report as “woefully inadequate” and failing to “engage meaningfully with its substance”.  Read the letter and the Government response: committees.parliament.uk/com…
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Our session has resumed with Morgan McSweeney, former Downing Street Chief of Staff, giving evidence on Lord Mandelson’s security vetting. Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=YyfyhaN-…

Mandelson vetting: Sir Philip Barton and Morgan McSweeney questioned...

Sir Philip Barton, former Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign,...

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Our session questioning Sir Philip Barton, former Permanent Under-Secretary at @FCDOGovUK and Morgan McSweeney, former Downing Street Chief of Staff, on Lord Mandelson’s security vetting has begun. Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=YyfyhaN-…

Mandelson vetting: Sir Philip Barton and Morgan McSweeney questioned...

Sir Philip Barton, former Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign,...

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We’ve published the response from the @FCDOGovUK, to the Chair’s latest letter. Read the FCDO’s response: committees.parliament.uk/pub…

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More details can be found on our website ⬇️ committees.parliament.uk/com…

Foreign Affairs Committee publishes FCDO response in consultation with Ian Collard - Committees -...

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We will hear from Sir Philip Barton, former Permanent Under-Secretary at @FCDOGovUK, on Lord Mandelson’s security vetting tomorrow at 9am Tuesday 28 April. Morgan McSweeney, former Downing Street Chief of Staff will also be giving evidence at 11am.
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More details can be found on our website ⬇️ committees.parliament.uk/eve…

28 April 2026 - Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - Oral evidence - Commit...

08:30 - The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

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Our Chair @EmilyThornberry has written to the Foreign Secretary @YvetteCooperMP, to request that Ian Collard at the @FCDOGovUK to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday 28 April on Lord Mandelson's security vetting. ➡️committees.parliament.uk/pub…
Dear Yvette, I am writing to formally request that lan Collard appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday next week (28 April). M y Committee Clerks have been i n touch with officials in the usual manner to try to secure Mr Collard's attendance, but as we are time-constrained by prorogation which is expected next week, I thought I should formally write to you. I would be grateful if you could respond by 5pm today with an update so that the appropriate arrangements can be made, both for the Committee to prepare and for support to be put into place for M r Collard. His evidence would fill gaps in our investigation, and as he and Sir Olly Robbins were potentially the only people in the meeting to discuss Lord Mandelson's security vetting, we must insist on seeing him personally in this instance. Thanks in advance for your help in moving this forward, Dame Emily Thornberry MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee

ALT Dear Yvette, I am writing to formally request that lan Collard appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday next week (28 April). M y Committee Clerks have been i n touch with officials in the usual manner to try to secure Mr Collard's attendance, but as we are time-constrained by prorogation which is expected next week, I thought I should formally write to you. I would be grateful if you could respond by 5pm today with an update so that the appropriate arrangements can be made, both for the Committee to prepare and for support to be put into place for M r Collard. His evidence would fill gaps in our investigation, and as he and Sir Olly Robbins were potentially the only people in the meeting to discuss Lord Mandelson's security vetting, we must insist on seeing him personally in this instance. Thanks in advance for your help in moving this forward, Dame Emily Thornberry MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee

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We will hear from Sir Philip Barton, former Permanent Under-Secretary at @FCDOGovUK, on Lord Mandelson’s security vetting at 9am Tuesday 28 April. Details of our session with Morgan McSweeney will be announced soon.
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More details can be found on our website ⬇️ committees.parliament.uk/wor…

Sir Philip Barton, former Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCDO, to give evidence on Lord Mandels...

The Foreign Affairs Committee will continue its scrutiny of Lord Mandelson’s security vetting with an evidence session with Sir Philip Barton.

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Our session with Cat Little, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office and Chief Operating Officer of the United Kingdom's Civil Service on Lord Mandelson's vetting has begun. Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=Wbf5a1eM…

Cat Little, Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary faces Foreign Affairs...

The Foreign Affairs Committee holds an evidence session with Chief ...

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Our session speaking to @cabinetofficeuk Permanent Secretary and chief operating officer of the UK’s Civil Service Cat Little tomorrow at 9:30am will be livestreamed on YouTube ⬇️ youtube.com/live/Wbf5a1eM5CQ

Cat Little, Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary faces Foreign Affairs...

The Foreign Affairs Committee holds an evidence session with Chief ...

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We will hear from former No 10 Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Cat Little on Lord Mandelson's security vetting across two sessions. We will hear from Ms Little tomorrow at 9:30am, with Mr McSweeney due to appear on Tuesday 28 April.
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More details can be found on our website ⬇️ committees.parliament.uk/com…

Cat Little and Morgan McSweeney to give evidence to FAC on Lord Mandelson’s vetting - Committees -...

The Foreign Affairs Committee will continue its scrutiny of Lord Mandelson’s security vetting with two evidence sessions, hearing from Morgan McSweeney and Cat Little.

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Today, Sir Oliver Robbins told us that it would have been "a very difficult problem" to deny clearance to former Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson after his appointment had been publicly announced.
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We've published a letter from Sir Oliver Robbins, received ahead of our evidence session today. Read it here: committees.parliament.uk/pub…
Screenshot of a letter dated 21 April 2026 from Oliver Robbins to Dame Emily Thornberry.

ALT Screenshot of a letter dated 21 April 2026 from Oliver Robbins to Dame Emily Thornberry.

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Our session with former Permanent Under-Secretary at @FCDOGovUK Sir Oliver Robbins on the vetting process for former Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson has begun.   Watch live ⬇️ youtube.com/watch?v=P_nXOE_d…

Sir Oliver Robbins questioned on Mandelson vetting by Foreign Affairs...

The Foreign Affairs Committee holds an evidence session with former...

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