NOTICIA
06.05.2026
Starmer tells civil servants to speak 'truth to power' after vetting row
The PM writes to civil servants following tensions over the sacking of former Foreign Office boss Sir Olly Robbins.
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BBC UK Newssir olly robbins
Estable21 noticias4 fuentesÚltima actualización: 06.05.2026
Temas relacionadosforeign officeolly robbinsdowning streetlord mandelsoncivil servicepeter mandelsonkeir starmerforeign affairs select committee
Últimas noticias
En desarrollo
Política·22.04.2026Resumen IA
Sir Olly Robbins' testimony raises stark questions about UK security vetting system
Sir Olly Robbins faced parliamentary scrutiny over his decision to grant Peter Mandelson developed vetting clearance despite UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommending denial in red. Robbins relied on oral briefing rather than viewing the actual vetting file, describing the case as "borderline". Former senior civil servants defended Robbins, but the testimony raised questions about the opacity of the vetting system and why risks potentially related to Jeffrey Epstein were apparently missed.
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Guardian UK
En desarrollo
Política·22.04.2026Resumen IA
Starmer sends 'chill' through civil service, union boss says
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing criticism from civil service union leaders after firing Sir Olly Robbins, the permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office, over the Lord Mandelson vetting controversy. The FDA union boss Dave Penman warned the PM is 'losing the ability to work with the civil service' and that senior officials now fear they could be dismissed 'when it is politically expedient'. Lord Sedwill, former head of the civil service, called for Sir Olly's reinstatement, while a Labour-led select committee backed the dismissal.
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BBC NewsEn desarrollo
Política·22.04.2026Resumen IA
Starmer sends 'chill' through civil service, union boss says
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing criticism from civil service union leader Dave Penman after firing Sir Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office's permanent under secretary, over the Lord Mandelson vetting scandal. Penman warned the PM is 'losing the ability to work with the civil service' and that no civil servant would now feel secure in their job. Lord Sedwill, former head of the civil service, called for Robbins' reinstatement, while Dame Emily Thornberry supported the dismissal. The controversy marks the seventh consecutive day of fallout from the Mandelson appointment saga.
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BBC UK News
En desarrollo
Política·22.04.2026Resumen IA
Starmer Accused of Creating 'Chill Throughout Civil Service' After Sacking Sir Olly Robbins
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing criticism from senior civil servants after sacking Sir Olly Robbins, the permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office, over the Lord Mandelson vetting controversy. The FDA trade union general secretary warned the PM is 'losing the ability to work with the civil service' and asked who would now think they were immune from politically expedient dismissal. Sir Olly gave evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, defending his decision not to share vetting details to protect the system's integrity. Dame Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP chairing the committee, backed the sacking.
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BBC NewsEn desarrollo
Política·22.04.2026Resumen IA
Starmer faces civil service backlash after sacking top Foreign Office civil servant over Mandelson vetting row
Sir Keir Starmer is facing criticism from senior civil servants after sacking Sir Olly Robbins, the permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office, over the Lord Peter Mandelson vetting controversy. The FDA trade union warned the PM is 'losing the ability to work with the civil service' and that no civil servant would now feel secure in their job. Dame Emily Thornberry, chairing the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, backed the sacking, saying Sir Olly was right to lose his job. The controversy marks the seventh consecutive day of political fallout from the Mandelson ambassadorial appointment.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Sir Olly Robbins accuses Downing Street of 'dismissive approach' to Mandelson vetting
Sir Olly Robbins, sacked as Foreign Office boss last week, has accused Downing Street of a 'dismissive approach' to vetting during Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US. In testimony to MPs, Sir Olly said he faced 'constant pressure' from No 10 to get Mandelson 'in post and in America as quickly as possible', despite UK Security Vetting recommending clearance be denied. Sir Keir Starmer has denied misleading Parliament, saying he was not informed of the vetting assessment results. The controversy has led to calls for the Prime Minister's resignation.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
No 10 considered giving Starmer aide diplomat job, sacked official says
Sir Olly Robbins, the sacked former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has claimed No.10 discussed finding Lord Doyle, the Prime Minister's then-director of communications, a diplomatic head of mission role. During evidence to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Sir Olly said he was under strict instruction not to discuss this with the then foreign secretary, which made him feel uncomfortable. Lord Doyle was made a peer after leaving No.10 in March 2025 but was suspended from the House of Lords this February over his links with convicted sex offender Sean Morton. The claims have sparked criticism from across the political spectrum, with Labour MPs and opposition parties questioning Sir Keir Starmer's judgement.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Robbins testimony raises questions about Mandelson vetting process
Sir Olly Robbins, sacked as Foreign Office permanent secretary, told a select committee he was briefed that UK Security Vetting considered Peter Mandelson a 'borderline case' leaning towards recommending denial of clearance, but he took the decision to grant clearance without seeing the vetting file. MPs said the file showed two red boxes ticked indicating high concern and advice that clearance should be denied.
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Guardian UK
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Sir Olly Robbins defends handling of Peter Mandelson security clearance amid No 10 pressure claims
Sir Olly Robbins has defended his handling of Peter Mandelson's security clearance, revealing he was under constant pressure from No 10 to expedite the Labour peer's appointment to Washington. Robbins acknowledged regretting that the appointment was announced before vetting was completed, but insisted the decision to grant clearance was correct. Prime Minister Keir Starmer maintains he should have been told about UK Security Vetting's recommendation to deny clearance, and defended his decision to sack Robbins.
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Guardian UK
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Sir Olly Robbins disputes No 10 account over Mandelson vetting and appointment pressure
Sir Olly Robbins told MPs he did not inform No 10 about vetting concerns around Lord Mandelson, while alleging Downing Street pushed hard for his appointment. His evidence also introduced questions about a separate proposed diplomatic role for Lord Doyle.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Sir Olly Robbins testimony reveals new controversy over Lord Doyle diplomatic appointment
Sir Olly Robbins has told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that he did not inform No 10 about vetting concerns regarding Lord Mandelson's security clearance for the Washington DC ambassador role. In a nearly two-and-a-half hour session, Sir Olly revealed a separate attempt to appoint Lord Doyle to a diplomatic post, despite his known ties to a convicted sex offender. The testimony deepens the crisis for Sir Keir Starmer, who has acknowledged the Mandelson appointment was a grave mistake. The PM now faces questions about his team's knowledge and judgment.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Former top Foreign Office official says No 10 had 'dismissive approach' to Mandelson security vetting
Former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins has told MPs that No 10 had a 'dismissive approach' to the security vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, describing an 'atmosphere of pressure' with a 'very strong expectation' that Mandelson should be 'in post and in America' as quickly as possible.
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BBC UK NewsEn desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Downing Street considered giving Lord Doyle ambassador role, ex-top civil servant says
Sir Olly Robbins, former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has claimed Downing Street discussed finding a head of mission role for Lord Doyle, the prime minister's then-director of communications. Robbins said he was under strict instruction not to discuss this with the then foreign secretary and felt uncomfortable about the proposal. Lord Doyle was later made a peer but suspended from the House of Lords in February over his links with convicted sex offender Sean Morton. The claims emerged during Robbins's appearance before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee about Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Former top civil servant Sir Olly Robbins gives evidence to MPs about Lord Mandelson vetting scandal
Sir Olly Robbins, former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, is giving evidence to MPs about his role in vetting Lord Mandelson for the UK ambassador to the US role. He reveals that security officials recommended denying clearance, but Downing Street applied constant pressure to expedite the process. Mandelson was granted clearance in January 2025 despite the recommendation, took up the role in February, and was sacked seven months later over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Robbins was effectively sacked last week.
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BBC NewsPolítica
21.04.2026Resumen IA
Sir Olly Robbins testifies on Lord Mandelson's vetting process
Sir Olly Robbins told MPs that Downing Street pressured the Foreign Office to expedite Lord Mandelson's security clearance, despite warnings from vetting officials. Mandelson was later dismissed as UK ambassador to the US over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Former top civil servant Sir Olly Robbins to testify before Parliament over Mandelson vetting scandal
Sir Olly Robbins, former permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office, will testify before the Foreign Affairs Committee today after being sacked last Thursday. He failed to inform the PM and foreign secretary that Lord Mandelson had failed vetting to be UK's ambassador in Washington. Robbins plans to defend his interpretation of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, 2010, which he claims prohibited sharing security vetting conclusions. The PM's allies maintain Robbins could and should have shared the information with ministers.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·21.04.2026Resumen IA
Former top civil servant to testify over Mandelson vetting scandal
Sir Olly Robbins, former permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office, testifies today after being sacked for failing to inform the PM that Lord Mandelson had failed vetting to be UK ambassador in Washington. He will defend his interpretation of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, which he says barred him from sharing vetting conclusions. The PM's allies maintain Robbins could and should have shared the information.
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BBC News
En desarrollo
Política·20.04.2026Resumen IA
Mandelson Vetting Row: Sir Olly Robbins to Testify as PM Denies Knowledge
Sir Olly Robbins, the former most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, will testify before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee this week amid a row over his handling of Lord Mandelson's security vetting. The Guardian revealed that potentially explosive vetting information about the new Washington ambassador was not passed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The controversy centers on the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 and whether civil servants can flag security vetting recommendations to ministers. Starmer denies knowing the details, while Conservatives plan to intensify pressure during Monday's Commons session, just weeks before local elections.
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BBC News
NOTICIA
20.04.2026
The problem with Keir’s Mandelson defence
The prime minister faces another defining day as he confronts MPs over one question – when did he and Number 10 learn that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting? Keir Starmer has blamed top foreign office diplomat – Sir Olly Robbins – for not telling him, but allies of the mandarin are fighting back […]
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Politico EU
En desarrollo
Política·19.04.2026Resumen IA
Senior civil servant cleared Mandelson US ambassador role despite failed security vetting, committee hears
Senior civil servants faced questions about the security vetting process for Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, which was cleared despite him failing vetting. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under Sir Olly Robbins granted clearance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy claim they were not told about the vetting failure. Robbins defended his decision, stating he made it based on the totality of evidence, including the prime minister's clear desire for Mandelson in post. The cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald was subsequently removed from his position in February 2026.
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Guardian UK