Sacked ex-Foreign Office chief, Sir Olly Robbins, revealed that Downing Street exerted consistent pressure to expedite Peter Mandelson’s transfer to Washington and showed a dismissive attitude towards his security vetting. Robbins defended his actions after Labour leader Keir Starmer criticized the Foreign Office for withholding information about Mandelson’s security clearance. Testifying before the Foreign Affairs Committee, Robbins disclosed that upon his arrival at the Foreign Office in January 2025, the atmosphere was urgent as Mandelson had already been announced as the Prime Minister’s choice for ambassador in December 2024.

Robbins stated that the Cabinet Office had initially questioned whether Mandelson required vetting due to his status as a member of the House of Lords and the privy council. He emphasized that it was not automatically assumed that Mandelson would undergo vetting at the time of his appointment. Additionally, Robbins mentioned being instructed to secure a prominent diplomatic role for Matthew Doyle, the Prime Minister’s former communications chief, without informing David Lammy, who was the Foreign Secretary at the time. Doyle eventually became a peer but faced repercussions for his association with a convicted sex offender.

These revelations are likely to intensify pressure on Keir Starmer, who recently dismissed Robbins as the Foreign Office’s permanent secretary amidst renewed controversy over Mandelson’s appointment. Robbins defended his actions before MPs, highlighting the urgency imposed by No10 to have Mandelson in his new position in the United States before the presidential inauguration.

Robbins detailed the frequent communication with Downing Street officials regarding Mandelson’s appointment, characterized by a persistent push to expedite the process. He highlighted the lack of interest in the necessity of the vetting, with the focus solely on the timing. When questioned about the consequences if Mandelson had been denied clearance, Robbins admitted it would have posed significant challenges.

Furthermore, Robbins disclosed that Mandelson’s security vetting process was already underway upon his arrival at the Foreign Office, with due diligence checks conducted by the Cabinet Office. Mandelson had been granted access to classified briefings on a case-by-case basis, despite the ongoing vetting process. Robbins also revealed the pressure he faced to find a diplomatic role for Matthew Doyle without involving the Foreign Secretary, describing the situation as uncomfortable and challenging.

Doyle eventually received a peerage but faced repercussions due to his connections with a convicted sex offender.