Former Foreign Office Head Alleges Downing Street Dismissed Lord Mandelson Vetting Concerns in 2024
Sir Olly Robbins, who was removed from his Foreign Office role last week, defended his actions before MPs, insisting he adhered to proper processes. His testimony to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday followed reports that his department approved Lord Mandelson's security clearance against initial UKSV recommendations, without informing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Lord Mandelson's appointment in December 2024 and subsequent dismissal in September 2024, following revelations about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has drawn persistent criticism for Sir Keir. Sir Keir stated on Monday that it was "incredible" he had not been briefed on the vetting assessment results.
Downing Street Pressure on Vetting
Sir Olly detailed that his department faced "constant pressure" from Downing Street to formalise Lord Mandelson's appointment, with a "strong expectation" for him to be "in post and in America as quickly as humanly possible". He recounted being briefed that Downing Street believed vetting "might be unnecessary" for a figure of Lord Mandelson's standing, with a Cabinet Office position suggesting "no need to vet Mandelson" given his status as a peer and privy councillor.
He affirmed that the Foreign Office "insisted and put its foot down" on the vetting requirement, despite what he perceived as a "dismissive approach" from Number 10. Sir Olly stated that UKSV considered Lord Mandelson a "borderline case", leaning towards denying clearance. However, the Foreign Office's security department assessed that identified risks could be managed, leading to a conditional clearance.
Number 10 has denied adopting a dismissive stance towards vetting, stating it was reasonable to seek updates on the appointment process. The specific nature of UKSV's concerns, beyond not directly relating to Epstein, remains undisclosed by Sir Olly.
Political Fallout and Allegations
The controversy prompted an emergency debate in Parliament, where Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued Sir Keir should face a vote of no confidence. Sir Keir, however, maintains he would have acted differently if he had been informed of the vetting results at the time. The government's own guidelines stipulate that ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign.
During the committee hearing, Sir Olly also mentioned that Downing Street had considered a diplomatic role for Lord Doyle, Sir Keir's former director of communications. Lord Doyle has denied seeking such a position and expressed unawareness of any Foreign Office discussions about a role for him. Number 10 declined to comment on "personnel discussions" but noted Lord Doyle did not assume a Foreign Office post.
