Prime Minister Starmer Affirms Civil Service Value After Sir Olly Robbins Dismissal
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has written to civil servants across Whitehall, stating his appreciation for their ability to “speak truth to power” and acknowledging an “unsettling” period for the service.
This communication follows the dismissal last month of Sir Olly Robbins, former Foreign Office boss. Robbins was removed from his post after it emerged he had not informed Sir Keir that he had granted security clearance to Lord Mandelson for the UK's ambassadorial role in the US, despite officials raising security concerns. Sir Keir previously stated to MPs he found it “staggering” that “officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information” from ministers.
Sir Olly, however, told a committee of MPs that he followed the correct procedures under “constant pressure” from No 10 to approve Lord Mandelson’s appointment. In his letter, Sir Keir told government employees: “I want a culture where information flows freely, where risks are flagged early, and where we work together to solve problems before they become crises.” He stressed that the relationship between ministers and officials relies on “a bedrock of total transparency.”
The government has initiated an investigation, led by retired judge Sir Adrian Fulford, into whether Sir Olly received accurate information before approving the security clearance for Lord Mandelson, who was dismissed as the UK’s ambassador in Washington last year. Sir Keir assured officials, “We are fixing the processes that have failed, but we are not changing the fundamental value we place on your role.”
Dave Penman, head of the FDA trade union for senior civil servants, previously characterised Sir Olly’s sacking as sending a “real chill throughout the civil service.” Lord McDonald, a former Foreign Office permanent under-secretary, criticised the swift removal, suggesting No 10 “wanted a scalp, they wanted it quickly,” without due process. Sir Olly is reportedly considering legal action over his dismissal.
Some Whitehall civil servants reportedly found the Prime Minister's letter
