Prime Minister Starmer Reassures Civil Servants After Sir Olly Robbins Foreign Office Dismissal

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has addressed civil servants in a letter, affirming his commitment to their role in "speaking truth to power" amidst an acknowledged "unsettling" period for government employees. The letter circulated on Wednesday afternoon to Whitehall staff, recognised the recent events as potentially disquieting but maintained they "do not define the civil service".

This intervention follows the contentious removal of former Foreign Office Permanent Secretary Sir Olly Robbins last month. Sir Olly's dismissal was prompted by revelations that he had not informed Sir Keir of granting security clearance to Lord Mandelson for the UK's ambassadorial position in the US, despite internal security concerns.

Sir Keir previously told Members of Parliament he found it "staggering" that "officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information" from ministers. Sir Olly, however, stated to an MP committee that he adhered to proper procedures while under "constant pressure" from Downing Street to approve Lord Mandelson's appointment.

In his communication, Sir Keir emphasised that "the relationship between a minister and their officials relies on a bedrock of total transparency" and that without trust, "the partnership that sits at the heart of our constitution cannot function". The government has initiated an investigation, led by retired judge Sir Adrian Fulford, into the vetting process preceding Lord Mandelson's eventual sacking as ambassador last year.

Dave Penman, head of the FDA trade union for senior civil servants, previously accused Sir Keir of fostering a "real chill throughout the civil service" in the wake of Sir Olly's dismissal. Lord McDonald, former Permanent Under-Secretary for the Foreign Office, criticised the speed of Sir Olly's removal, suggesting Downing Street desired a swift "scalp" without due process.

Some Whitehall civil servants reportedly found the Prime Minister's letter "tone deaf", with one stating, "I don't feel exposed by recent scrutiny, I feel exposed by a PM who has thrown the cabinet secretary and permanent secretary at the foreign office under a bus to deflect criticism."