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Sir Olly Robbins, the senior Foreign Office official who was removed from his post following revelations that Peter Mandelson had been granted security clearance despite flagged concerns during the vetting process, is slated to face questioning from MPs on Tuesday. The Foreign Affairs Committee intends to examine why Mandelson, the former US ambassador, obtained the clearance and whether the Prime Minister’s Office was informed about the potential issues beforehand.
This development occurs amidst growing challenges for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is expected to appear in the House of Commons the day prior to answer inquiries related to the controversy. Lord Simon McDonald, who previously served as permanent secretary at the Foreign Office before Sir Olly, defended the dismissed official during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He suggested the Prime Minister’s Office disproportionately sought a swift scapegoat, saying, “No 10 wanted a scalp and wanted it quickly.”
Lord McDonald emphasized that Sir Olly was adhering to legal procedures throughout the vetting process and pointed out that information from the confidential security checks is never disclosed to either 10 Downing Street or the Prime Minister. Criticizing the manner of Sir Olly’s effective dismissal, Lord McDonald remarked, “I cannot see that there was any process, any fairness, any giving him the chance to set out his case, and that feels, to me, wrong.”
The Prime Minister has faced intense scrutiny from opposition parties, with MPs casting doubt on his claim that he only recently became aware of Mandelson’s failed vetting outcome. Earlier, Sir Keir had told Parliament that the appointment followed “due process,” a statement that provoked accusations of misleading the Commons. Reflecting on the delayed briefing, Sir Keir described the lack of timely information as “staggering,” adding, “That I wasn’t told that he had failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable.”
Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US was announced in December 2024, with a thorough developed vetting process beginning immediately. He officially assumed the role in February 2025 but was removed in September after new information emerged regarding his past associations with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. At the time Mandelson’s selection was made public, Sir Olly had been the top civil servant at the Foreign Office for just two weeks.
On Friday, Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, formally requested Sir Olly to appear and provide testimony concerning the affair. Although no official confirmation of his attendance had been made, sources close to Sir Olly indicated he was preparing to attend the hearing on Tuesday. Allies also expressed skepticism that Sir Olly ever saw the full negative recommendation issued during Mandelson’s vetting. They suggested he might have only reviewed summaries highlighting specific risks rather than the complete report.
According to BBC News, the vetting report ultimately advised against granting Mandelson security clearance, which would allow access to sensitive government material. The vetting process is managed by a government agency overseen by the Cabinet Office, which supplies risk assessments and clearance recommendations to the relevant departments responsible for hiring
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