Sir Olly Robbins, the former chief Foreign Office official who was removed after approving Peter Mandelson’s security clearance despite vetting concerns, is expected to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, according to an April 18 report. The committee plans to question Robbins about why Mandelson received the clearance and whether senior government figures were informed of any red flags during the process.
The issue has raised significant questions about transparency and accountability in government vetting procedures. The scrutiny comes at a time when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is also set to address Parliament regarding the controversy surrounding Mandelson’s appointment.
Lord Simon McDonald, Robbins’ predecessor as permanent secretary, defended him on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “No 10 wanted a scalp and wanted it quickly,” McDonald said. He continued: “I cannot see that there was any process, any fairness, any giving [Sir Olly] the chance to set out his case, and that feels, to me, wrong.” McDonald also stated that details from the confidential vetting process would “never be shared with No 10 or the prime minister” but added that an outright failure would have had to be conveyed at a political level.
However, multiple Whitehall sources told BBC News that security officials did recommend against granting Mandelson a security clearance. Documents released by the government show officials can indicate varying levels of concern in such cases; for Mandelson’s vetting both options reportedly reflected high concern with explicit recommendations for denial.
Prime Minister Starmer has faced criticism from opposition MPs over his handling of information related to Mandelson’s failed vetting. He previously told Parliament that due process had been followed but later called not being informed sooner as “staggering” and described it as “unforgivable.” Dame Emily Thornberry requested Robbins appear before her committee due to developments this week calling into question previous evidence he gave.
It has also come out that Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo learned of Mandelson’s failed vetting in late March but delayed informing Starmer while investigating legal implications. After further revelations about ties between Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein surfaced last September, he was removed from his ambassadorial post.
Following Robbins’ departure from office, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Prime Minister Starmer had “no one left to sack” while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for an investigation into whether Parliament was intentionally misled.
