The dismissal of a top Foreign Office official linked to the approval of security clearance for Peter Mandelson is set to face scrutiny from Members of Parliament on Tuesday.
Sir Olly Robbins will be questioned by the Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the decision to grant the ex-US ambassador security clearance, despite concerns raised during the vetting process.
During Sir Olly’s tenure as the highest-ranking civil servant at the Foreign Office, the choice was made to override recommendations from UK Security Vetting to allow Mandelson to secure a prestigious position.
Downing Street has clarified that Keir Starmer was not informed of Mandelson’s initial clearance denial. The Prime Minister has ordered a swift investigation into the approval of Mandelson’s vetting, amid allegations of potential misrepresentation to Parliament. This parliamentary inquiry is scheduled immediately following the PM’s appearance in the Commons to address the issue.
Meanwhile, a former senior government official, Lord Simon McDonald, criticized the manner in which Sir Olly was dismissed, suggesting that he was made a scapegoat without due process.
Lord McDonald also disputed the characterization of the vetting process as a “failure,” emphasizing its complexity and the need for clarifications and mitigations.
Keir Starmer has faced mounting pressure following his appointment of Mandelson as the UK’s representative in Washington. Mandelson, a controversial figure from the Labour party with ties to past Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, was tasked with managing UK-US relations. However, he was removed from the position after revelations emerged about his connections to Epstein.
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