Keir Starmer has dismissed Sir Olly Robbins, the head of the Foreign Office, in the wake of the Peter Mandelson vetting controversy. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have reportedly lost faith in the senior official, leading to his departure. This decision follows the revelation that Lord Mandelson was appointed as the US ambassador despite failing his security screening.
Sir Olly was serving as the top civil servant at the Foreign Office when the choice was made to override recommendations from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) to enable Lord Mandelson to assume the prestigious role.
No10 clarified that the Prime Minister was not initially informed of the denial of clearance for the Labour figure. Keir Starmer has initiated a swift investigation into the approval of Lord Mandelson’s vetting, amidst concerns about potential misinformation to Members of Parliament.
The Foreign Office has committed to promptly address the issue raised by the Prime Minister. Mr. Starmer has faced significant scrutiny for nominating Lord Mandelson as the UK’s representative in Washington last year, a decision that was later reversed after new information emerged regarding his association with Epstein.
According to a government spokesperson, ministers were unaware of Lord Mandelson’s initial clearance denial following developed vetting in late January 2025. The blame has been directed at the Foreign Office for the decision to grant Developed Vetting to Lord Mandelson against UKSV advice.
An urgent process has been initiated by the Prime Minister to investigate the circumstances surrounding the granting of developed vetting. The Foreign Office is cooperating swiftly with this process.
Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Lammy, now serving as Justice Secretary, reportedly learned of the situation only on Thursday.
