This is The Guardian.

What we've established through our sources is that there were wide-ranging concerns.

Some of them related to Peter Mandelson's associations before he became ambassador to

Washington. This information may not have been disclosed to the public and we essentially think

the public has a right to know. The Guardian exclusively reveals that Peter Mandelson's ties with senior

figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the UK's vetting agency when it concluded

he'd be denied security clearance as US ambassador. From The Guardians today in focus, this is the

latest with me, Lucy Hall. Paul Lewis, the Guardian's head of investigations is here. You have a follow-up

to the major exclusive with your colleagues, Pippa Kriar and Henry

Dyer, last month that the UK's vetting agency, the UK government's vetting agency,

recommended that Peter Mandelson be denied security clearance, advice that was overruled by the

foreign office as per your revelation last month. You've since learnt more information

about why the vetting agency recommended that security clearance be denied. What were some of

the concerns raised? Yes. I mean, this is the question. I think everyone sort of wanted an answer to,

you know, that security officials thought that he shouldn't get developed vetting

clearance. So what were their concerns? What we've established through our sources is that

there were wide-ranging concerns. Some of them related to Peter Mandelson's associations

before he became ambassador to Washington. And I'll give you four examples. One was a relationship with China's finance

minister, Lan Fouan. Another was his friendship with Oleg Deripaska, who is a Russian-sanctioned

oligarch. A third was his association with someone called Tamir Haman who is a or was a director of

intelligence for the Israeli military right and then there was a fourth

individual who is British that security officials felt could be compromising to

...