Starmer Accused of Sacking Robbins Without Seeking Explanation Over Mandelson Affair
Allies of Sir Olly Robbins have asserted that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dismissed the former Foreign Office chief without even requesting an explanation for his handling of the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. This claim directly contradicts Sir Keir's statement to the House of Commons on Monday, where he told MPs he had asked for and rejected Sir Olly's account before terminating his position.
Conflicting Timelines and Allegations of Misleading Parliament
A source close to Sir Olly provided The Independent with a detailed timeline, stating that the prime minister learned of the vetting issue on Tuesday evening, while Sir Olly was only informed on Wednesday morning. According to the source, a telephone conversation then occurred where Sir Keir expressed disgust and announced the sacking, but did not solicit any explanation from Sir Olly.
"The prime minister told MPs in the House that he had asked Olly Robbins the question about why he did not share the vetting conclusions with him. This is not the case," the source stated emphatically. They noted that during his testimony before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday, Sir Olly pointedly refused to confirm the prime minister's version of events, hinting at potential legal action.
Downing Street's Response and Tory Condemnation
When confronted with these allegations, a Downing Street spokesperson said the Prime Minister "stood by these words" but declined to comment on whether notes were taken during the call or if others were present. Sources from Number 10 added that Sir Olly was asked to provide an account ahead of the dismissal call.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch denounced the situation, stating the "whole thing stinks." She suggested that if the claims are accurate, the Prime Minister would have misled Parliament. "It is now obvious to everyone that Olly Robbins was just the latest person sacked by Starmer to save the prime minister’s own skin," Ms. Badenoch told The Independent. She accused Sir Keir of seeking a scapegoat for his own decisions regarding the failed vetting of Lord Mandelson for the US ambassador role.
Robbins' Committee Testimony and Legal Considerations
During the Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Tory MP Aphra Brandreth questioned Sir Olly about the discussions preceding his sacking, noting the apparent discrepancy between his account and the Prime Minister's. Sir Olry responded cautiously, saying, "I'm in an unknown territory, honestly, for me, personally, about the HR position I am in and what this means for my family. I must remain quiet on that until my advisors have told me what the appropriate thing to do is about it all." This statement followed reports that he has engaged lawyers to explore a legal claim over his dismissal.
Starmer's Defence and Mounting Political Pressure
At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir attempted to quell the scandal, asserting that Sir Olly's testimony "puts to bed all the allegations levelled at me" concerning dishonesty. He reiterated that not sharing the vetting information was a "serious error of judgment" and that had he been informed, Lord Mandelson would not have been proposed for the ambassadorial post.
However, under intense questioning from Ms. Badenoch and other MPs, Sir Keir admitted that Downing Street had explored finding an ambassador role for Matthew Doyle prior to his dismissal as communications director. The Prime Minister described such conversations as commonplace but said "nothing came of" the discussions. This admission has compounded the government's embarrassment, given Lord Doyle's subsequent suspension by Labour due to his association with a convicted paedophile—a scandal with parallels to Lord Mandelson's past friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Scandal Refuses to Subside
The controversy shows no signs of abating. Labour MP Jonathan Brash has become the first from his party to publicly call for Sir Keir's resignation, expressing being "fed up to the back teeth of this psychodrama in Westminster." Furthermore, Sir Keir's former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, has been summoned to testify before the foreign affairs committee next week, just hours before Parliament is prorogued ahead of the King's speech in May. The ongoing revelations and political fallout continue to challenge the Prime Minister's authority and his government's commitment to transparency.
