Former Foreign Office head Sir Olly Robbins revealed that there was persistent pressure from No10 to expedite Peter Mandelson’s move to Washington and a nonchalant attitude towards his vetting process. This statement emerged following accusations by Keir Starmer that the Foreign Office kept him uninformed regarding concerns over the security clearance of the disgraced peer. Sir Olly disclosed to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that upon assuming his role in January 2025, there was a push to swiftly finalize Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US, a decision made public in December 2024.
Sir Olly indicated that doubts were raised by the Cabinet Office about the necessity of vetting Lord Mandelson due to his positions in the House of Lords and Privy Council. He expressed uncertainty about the automatic vetting process at the time of Mandelson’s appointment. Additionally, Sir Olly mentioned being instructed to secure a prestigious diplomatic position for Matthew Doyle, the then-communications chief, without informing David Lammy, who was serving as Foreign Secretary. Ultimately, Doyle was ennobled but later faced repercussions for his association with a convicted sex offender.
This new information intensifies the pressure on Keir Starmer, who recently dismissed Sir Olly, following revelations that a recommendation to deny Lord Mandelson high-level clearance by UK Security Vetting (UKSV) was overridden. The Prime Minister condemned the deliberate withholding of critical details from him, claiming he would have retracted Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment had he been fully informed. This decision stemmed from additional revelations about Mandelson’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein, resulting in his dismissal the previous year.
Contrary to assertions made by Kemi Badenoch and other political figures, Sir Olly affirmed that he refrained from disclosing the concerns raised by UKSV to the Prime Minister or Downing Street, refuting claims of Starmer’s deceit. Meanwhile, Sir Olly highlighted the immense pressure to endorse Mandelson’s appointment swiftly, citing urgent directives from No10 to have him assume his role in America before the presidential inauguration.
Regarding the frequency of communication with No10 officials, Sir Olly mentioned a continuous pursuit for updates on Mandelson’s appointment, emphasizing a sense of urgency rather than genuine interest in the vetting process. When questioned about the potential ramifications had Mandelson been denied clearance, Sir Olly acknowledged it would have posed significant challenges.
During the committee session, Sir Olly addressed inquiries about an alleged directive from the PM’s top aide to hasten the approval process. He acknowledged a prevailing atmosphere of pressure and disregard for the vetting process but did not recall explicit language as described. The former top civil servant mentioned that security officials were inclined against granting Mandelson top-level security clearance, categorizing his case as borderline, without divulging any undisclosed information that may have surfaced during the vetting.
Furthermore, Sir Olly disclosed being instructed to conceal a request to secure a prominent role for Lord Doyle within the mission, without informing the Foreign Secretary at the time. These revelations have reignited controversy surrounding Mandelson and raised concerns about the vetting process. In response to these developments, the Government initiated a leak inquiry subsequent to the publication of the Mandelson vetting episode by the Guardian.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, Keir Starmer pivoted towards his responsibilities, overseeing discussions aimed at safeguarding Britain from the repercussions of the Iran conflict. The Government’s focus remains on addressing domestic challenges, diplomatic efforts to facilitate negotiations, and military planning to ensure security and navigation in the region post-conflict.
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