'Felt political pressure': Sacked official blames Starmer’s office over Mandelson appointment

The erstwhile civilian servant who oversaw the support of Peter Mandelson’s assignment arsenic Britain’s ambassador to Washington has said helium felt “political pressure” to fast-track the determination contempt "security concerns.

"Olly Robbins, the erstwhile caput of the Foreign Office was dismissed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer past week amid a widening ungraded that has prompted calls for the premier minister’s resignation. Mandelson was removed from his station successful September past year, conscionable 9 months into the job, aft further details emerged astir his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted US enactment offender who died successful situation successful 2019.“There was an ambiance of unit from the Prime Minister’s bureau and a very, precise beardown anticipation that Mandelson needed to beryllium successful station and successful America arsenic rapidly arsenic possible,” Robbins told the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee connected Tuesday, a time aft Starmer was questioned by MPs implicit however the assignment was approved.“There was a mostly dismissive cognition toward the information vetting process,” helium added.Robbins further stated that the vetting bureau considered Mandelson a “borderline case” and was “leaning toward recommending against” giving him information clearance. However, the Foreign Office gave the clearance anyway.He clarified that the "security concerns" were not related to Mandelson's relationship with Epstein.

He besides declined to accidental erstwhile questioned by lawmakers what led the government's vetting bureau to emblem Mandelson arsenic a imaginable information risk.For his part, Starmer has acknowledged that the assignment was a “mistake” and said helium would person reconsidered it had helium been alert of the vetting concerns. However, helium has placed work connected Foreign Office officials, accusing them of failing to pass him astir the issues and of proceeding with the support contempt them.He described it arsenic “frankly staggering” that helium was not told astir the failed information cheque carried retired successful January 2025, insisting helium lone learned of it past week.(With AP inputs)