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A former senior government official, Olly Robbins, who was sacked last week, testified before MPs on Tuesday, revealing that Downing Street exerted constant pressure to ensure that Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the British Ambassador to the US went through, disregarding serious security concerns.
Robbins, who was the Foreign Ministry’s top official, disclosed that despite independent vetting officials advising against Mandelson’s appointment due to security risks, the government green-lit it.
These revelations have intensified calls for Starmer’s resignation, with his previous assurances about “due process” now under scrutiny. According to Robbins, security clearance was “borderline,” and though officials were “leaning towards recommending clearance be denied,” the Foreign Office security department assessed that the risks could be managed.
The controversy began when Mandelson, known for his ties to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was appointed to the prestigious post in December 2024, just weeks before US President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The decision has since been questioned, particularly after it emerged that Mandelson’s lobbying firm had connections with Chinese companies, raising national security concerns.
Robbins also described the atmosphere within the Foreign Office as one of constant pressure from Downing Street to expedite Mandelson’s appointment. He recalled a “very strong expectation” that the US envoy needed to be in post “as quickly as humanly possible.” This pressure, he claimed, resulted in a dismissive attitude toward security vetting.
While Robbins contended that the Foreign Office believed any risks could be mitigated, the focus quickly shifted to Starmer’s handling of the situation. He has since blamed officials for not informing him adequately about the security concerns. Starmer has since launched a review of the vetting process, but many see this as an attempt to scapegoat Robbins.
The political fallout continues to grow, with the Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, calling for an emergency debate in Parliament.
Allegations against Mandelson also surfaced when UK police began investigating misconduct claims from his time as a Labour minister. Despite being arrested and released without charges in February, Mandelson denies any wrongdoing.
As the political drama unfolds, even former US President Trump has weighed in, criticising Starmer’s choice of Mandelson for the Washington job, labelling it a “really bad pick.”
