Lord Sedwill, a former cabinet secretary, has urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to reinstate Sir Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office chief who was dismissed last week for failing to inform the PM that security vetting officials had recommended against appointing Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US.
Sedwill backs Robbins
Speaking out in support of Sir Olly, Lord Sedwill said he “shouldered his responsibilities rather than shunting them” and called for his reinstatement. He criticised the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint Lord Mandelson against official advice and to announce the appointment before vetting was complete, arguing that Starmer was already aware of Mandelson’s past conduct.
Robbins’ testimony
In his testimony, Sir Olly claimed there was a “dismissive approach” from Downing Street regarding the vetting process and an “atmosphere of pressure” to approve Lord Mandelson, who already had high-level access. He questioned whether No 10 told the Foreign Office to “just f***ing approve” Mandelson.
Union criticism
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA trade union, accused the Prime Minister of creating a “real chill throughout the civil service” with Sir Olly’s dismissal. He questioned who in the civil service would now feel secure, given the handling of the case.
Lord Sedwill’s intervention adds to growing pressure on Starmer to reverse his decision and reinstate Sir Olly, whom he described as a “distinguished” civil servant.
