
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.

The PM writes to civil servants following tensions over the sacking of former Foreign Office boss Sir Olly Robbins.

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is facing internal crisis after Prime Minister Keir Starmer sacked Olly Robbins, the senior civil servant leading radical departmental reforms. Robbins was dismissed over security vetting lapses surrounding Peter Mandelson's failed appointment as US ambassador. The FCDO 2030 program aims to cut 2,000 jobs by decade's end, with staff currently undergoing a job-matching exercise. Insiders describe low morale and uncertainty, while the department faces multiple pressures including a diplomatic scandal involving ambassador Christian Turner's remarks about Israel.

Keir Starmer faces a vote on referring him to the privileges committee over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, with evidence from former Foreign Office permanent secretary Philip Barton and ex-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney to the foreign affairs committee. While Labour is expected to easily win the vote, the committee testimony may impact how MPs view Starmer, particularly after the sacking of Olly Robbins over the vetting controversy.

A senior Foreign Office security official has testified that he felt pressure from Downing Street to rapidly conclude Peter Mandelson's security vetting clearance, which was eventually granted despite UKSV recommending denial. Ian Collard said he gave an oral briefing to former permanent secretary Olly Robbins without having seen the UKSV assessment summary that flagged Mandelson as a 'high concern'. The testimony adds to controversy surrounding Prime Minister Keir Starmer's claim that 'no pressure existed whatsoever' in the case.

Olly Robbins gave MPs a classic civil servant’s performance – and there are lessons from the past about how ministers should respondThe Whitehall satire Yes Minister was said to be Margaret Thatcher’s favourite TV show due to its proximity to reality, as the programme’s loquacious top civil servant, Sir Humphrey, might have put it.Yes Minister had a familiar groove: there would be a problem in response to which the mandarin would artfully deploy the most astonishing sophistry to avoid blame or get his own way. Jim Hacker, the largely clueless yet ambitious politician played by the late Paul Eddington, rarely won the day. Continue reading...

The firing of Olly Robbins by Prime Minister Keir Starmer over a vetting oversight has reignited debates about the relationship between politicians and the civil service, with historical precedents suggesting such conflicts often backfire on the political leadership.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has closed its international humanitarian law cell that tracked potential breaches by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, following cuts and a restructuring led by dismissed permanent secretary Olly Robbins. The decision comes just two weeks after Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper pledged international law would be a linchpin of her department's policy. The closure also ends funding for the Centre for Information Resilience's Conflict and Security Monitoring Project, which maintained a database of 26,000 verified incidents in the Middle East dating back to October 7, 2023.

The UK Foreign Office has closed its International Humanitarian Law cell that tracked potential breaches by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, following cuts linked to the overseas aid budget reduction to 0.3% of GNI. The closure ends funding for the Centre for Information Resilience's Conflict and Security Monitoring Project, which maintained a database of 26,000 verified incidents dating back to October 7, 2023. The decision comes just two weeks after Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper pledged respect for international law as a core British value in her Mansion House speech.

Where Olly Robbins relied on recollections, Cabinet Office’s top civil servant was at pains to link her account to paper trail Seen through the Westminster bubble, the Peter Mandelson vetting affair looks like an age-old conflict pitting ministers against mandarins. Yet the latest top civil servant to testify to parliament over what some are now calling “Mandygate” gave an intriguing account that suggested it has never been as simple as that.Cat Little, the top civil servant at the Cabinet Office, did not put it in these terms, but what she revealed was an extraordinary dispute between the country’s most senior civil servants. Continue reading...

A UK minister has revealed that Foreign Office officials refused to provide a summary of why Peter Mandelson was initially refused vetting clearance during his appointment as a minister. David Robbins, then Foreign Office counterpart, resisted sending the document despite requests as part of Commons 'humble address' proceedings. The Foreign Office also initiated discussions about whether vetting was needed for Mandelson as a member of the House of Lords. Additionally, there appears to be no official record of Prime Minister Keir Starmer approving Mandelson's appointment, with boxes for the PM's comments left blank on relevant forms.

Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little has accused former Foreign Office head Olly Robbins of refusing to hand over a vetting summary about Peter Mandelson's security clearance. Giving evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee, Little said Robbins resisted her department seeing documents connected to Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US, despite her specific request. She disputed Robbins' claim that the Cabinet Office had suggested Mandelson might not need vetting, saying emails showed it was the Foreign Office that raised this possibility given his status as a member of the House of Lords.

In evidence to MPs, Cabinet Office top civil servant disputes that her department suggested vetting might not be neededUK politics live – latest updatesOlly Robbins refused to hand Peter Mandelson’s vetting summary to the Cabinet Office, the civil servant who leads the department has said.The summary – which would have revealed that Robbins, the now-sacked Foreign Office head, had granted Mandelson clearance against the advice of security officials – was instead provided to Cat Little by UK Security Vetting (UKSV), she said. Continue reading...

Cat Little, Cabinet Office permanent secretary, will give evidence to MPs regarding the vetting of Peter Mandelson for ambassadorial clearance. The hearing follows controversy over Olly Robbins's sacking and the discovery of a recommendation against granting Mandelson clearance.

PM under increasing pressure over Mandelson vetting scandal as sources say ministers spoke up at tense meetingKeir Starmer is looking increasingly isolated over his handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal with divisions emerging in cabinet over his decision to sack the Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins.On another difficult day for the prime minister, the Guardian learned of concerns around the cabinet table, a senior minister refused to say the dismissal was fair and several mandarins called for him to be reinstated. One Labour MP called on Starmer to quit. Continue reading...

Sources say cabinet ministers warned PM against alienating civil service after firing of official over Mandelson scandalUK politics live – latest updatesCabinet ministers have expressed concern about Keir’s Starmer’s decision to sack Olly Robbins as the Foreign Office’s top official over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal as they warned him not to alienate the civil service, sources have told the Guardian.Several ministers spoke out about the decision to sack Robbins during a gloomy cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to multiple government sources. Continue reading...

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.

Keir Starmer faced intense questioning at PMQs regarding the vetting of Peter Mandelson and potential diplomatic appointments for political allies. While denying pressure on the Foreign Office, Starmer acknowledged failures in communication regarding security vetting outcomes.

Pat McFadden repeatedly declined to say that he thought the sacking of Foreign Office’s top official over Mandelson vetting was fairPat McFadden was not exactly gung-ho in his support for Keir Starmer this morning, but he was enthusiastic when asked about Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary. On LBC Nick Ferrari, the presenter, asked if he was happy about Mahmood telling pro-migration protesters who heckled her about her policies at an event on Monday night to “fuck right off”.It seemed he was. McFadden replied:Shabana is a robust lady, and she always has my full support. I think she’s an enormous asset to the government.I think her policies are right. I think she’s an enormous asset to the government, and she’s a robust lady. We need tough people in politics, and she’s tough. Continue reading...

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.

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.

Keir Starmer faces PMQs today with the Peter Mandelson vetting row dominating the Westminster agenda. Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office permanent secretary whom Starmer sacked, gave evidence to MPs yesterday, with Labour MPs warning the prime minister's leadership is now on borrowed time. Former cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill said Robbins should get his job back.

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.

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.

Olly Robbins has confirmed that senior government officials debated withholding sensitive vetting documents concerning Peter Mandelson from parliament, contradicting earlier denials by Chief Secretary Darren Jones.