Sir Keir Starmer Faces Union Backlash Over Sir Olly Robbins Foreign Office Dismissal

Sir Keir Starmer faces accusations of instilling a "real chill throughout the civil service" following the dismissal of Sir Olly Robbins, the lead civil servant at the Foreign Office.

Sir Olly, who served as the permanent under-secretary, was removed last week after giving evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday regarding the vetting process for Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador in Washington.

Dave Penman, head of the FDA trade union, which represents senior civil servants, criticised the prime minister's decision. Penman stated, "I think the prime minister is losing the ability to work with the civil service." He further questioned, "Who in the civil service would now think they would be immune from when it is politically expedient to be dismissed?"

Lord Sedwill, former head of the civil service and National Security Adviser, has called on Sir Keir to "retract his accusations" against Sir Olly and reinstate him. In a letter to The Times, Sedwill argued that Sir Olly had made a professional judgment regarding the mitigation of issues, not whether to inform the prime minister of already known facts.

Conversely, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden defended Sir Keir, asserting that the prime minister acted fairly due to a "fundamental disagreement" over the information shared. Sir Olly maintained he withheld details to protect the integrity of the vetting system.

Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour MP and chair of the select committee, supported Sir Olly's dismissal, while fellow Labour MP Dan Carden described Downing Street's action as "plain wrong," warning of damage to government effectiveness.

The controversy marks the seventh consecutive day of scrutiny for Sir Keir regarding the Lord Mandelson affair, with the prime minister's politically consequential decision now subject to public and parliamentary dissection.