A high-ranking government official has declined to comment on the dismissal of Sir Olly Robbins from his position as head of the Foreign Office, amidst increasing pressure on Keir Starmer.

Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, affirmed his support for the Prime Minister but evaded questions regarding the fairness of the decision to remove Sir Olly.

The Prime Minister removed Sir Olly from his role last week following revelations that a recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) to deny high-level clearance to Lord Mandelson had been overturned.

Sir Olly defended himself on Tuesday after accusations from Mr. Starmer that the Foreign Office had not been forthcoming about the security clearance of the disgraced peer.

During his testimony to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Sir Olly described an urgency to finalize matters upon assuming his post in January 2025, as Lord Mandelson had been announced as the PM’s choice for US ambassador in December 2024.

McFadden has consistently sidestepped confirming whether he believed Starmer’s decision to dismiss Sir Olly was just. When pressed, McFadden reiterated his respect for Sir Olly but deferred to the Prime Minister’s judgment on the matter.

Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA union representing senior civil servants, expressed concerns over the chilling effect of Sir Olly’s dismissal on Whitehall, emphasizing the importance of trust between ministers and civil servants for effective governance.

Meanwhile, Emily Thornberry criticized Starmer’s handling of the Peter Mandelson controversy, characterizing it as a setback. Thornberry acknowledged positive changes in Downing Street staff but suggested Starmer was backsliding in his leadership approach.