Sir Olly Robbins said there was a “dismissive approach” to vetting Lord Peter Mandelson from No 10 and an “atmosphere of pressure”.
The former Foreign Office chief told the Foreign Affairs Committee that there was “no interest in whether, only interest in when” the Labour peer could be appointed, and there was a push to have him in Washington as quickly as “humanly possible”.
Sir Olly is appearing before MPs to give his side of events after Lord Mandelson was handed the US ambassador role despite failing vetting checks.
He will have a chance to respond to Sir Keir Starmer, who blamed the sacked senior civil servant for “deliberately” keeping him in the dark over the Labour peer’s security checks.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has questioned Sir Keir’s judgement in appointing Lord Mandelson, writing on social media that he was “a really bad pick”.
Key Points
- Watch live: Sir Olly Robbins gives evidence to MPs on vetting scandal
- Robbins says No 10 had 'dismissive approach' to Mandelson vetting
- Donald Trump says Mandelson was a 'really bad pick'
- Who is Olly Robbins?
Lord Mandelson was considered a 'borderline case', Sir Olly says
09:39 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins said he was briefed that United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) considered Lord Mandelson a “borderline case” and that risks identified did not relate to his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The former senior civil servant told the Foreign Affairs Committee: “I was briefed that UKSV considered Mandelson a borderline case and that they were leaning towards recommending that clearance be denied, but that the Foreign Office’s security department assessed that the risks identified as of highest concern by UKSV could be managed and/or mitigated.”
He said that “appropriate risk management” was put into place, for Lord Mandelson.
Watch: There was 'atmosphere of pressure' over Mandelson appointment
09:36 , Holly EvansFormer mandarin says there is no record of 'every phone call' between No10 and Foreign Office
09:35 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins said he doubted there was a record of every conversation between the Foreign Office and No 10.
“I doubt there’s a record of every phone call,” he told the Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I’m sure there is a trail that explains that there was regular contact.”
Sir Olly was asked by committee chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry whether a phone call from Downing Street effectively telling the Foreign Office to “get on with it” was important, even if it happened regularly.
He replied that “it is, but if it’s not telling the department anything new, then there might be no need to record it” every time.
UKSV flags were not about Epstein, says Robbins
09:32 , Athena StavrouSir Olly Robbins has said that the risks flagged by UKSV as part of their recommendation to deny Peter Mandelson security clearance were not related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson was sacked from his job as US ambassador last September after further light was shed on his ties to the financier.
But Sir Olly told the Foreign Affairs Committee that the reason that security services raised concerns with Mandelson was not related to this issue.
“I was also told that the risks did not relate to Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” he said.
“And that I was told that UKSV acknowledged, I don't know in what way, but acknowledged that the Foreign Office might wish to grant clearance with appropriate risk management.”
Sir Olly accuses No10 of leaking Mandelson vetting to newspaper
09:28 , Holly EvansIn his letter sent to Dame Emily Thornberry ahead of his appearance at the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Sir Olly Robbins accused Downing Street of leaking the Mandelson vetting story to The Guardian.
He wrote: “Finally, it is deeply worrying that within days of CO officials briefing No 10 on the issues they perceived with Mandelson’s vetting the story had leaked to The Guardian.”
Robbins: No 10 only interested in ‘when’ not ‘whether’ Mandelson passed vetting
09:24 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins has described a pressure put on Foreign Office officials by No 10 to grant Peter Mandelson’s security clearance as quickly as possible.
The sacked civil servant said there was “never any interest” from No 10 on “whether” the vetting had passed, just an interest in “when”.
“I think throughout January, honestly, my office, the foreign secretary's office, were under constant pressure,” he told the Foreign Affairs Committee.
“There was a there was an atmosphere of constant chasing.”
He added there was “never any interest, as far as I recall, in whether - but only an interest in when.”
Parts of government did not want Mandelson to be vetted, Robbins tells MPs
09:21 , Kate DevlinThe former top mandarin at the Foreign Office said it had to put his foot down to vet Peter Mandelson at all.
He said there was a “position taken from the Cabinet Office that there was no need to vet Mandelson. He was a member of the House of Lords. He was a privy counsellor.
“The risks attending his appointment were well known and had been made clear to the Prime Minister before appointment. Now, in the end, the FCDO insisted and put its foot down.”
No 10 wanted Mandelson in Washington as quickly as ‘humanly possible’, says Robbins
09:20 , Athena StavrouSir Olly Robbins has said when he took up his post as the top official in the Foreign Office that No 10 had said they wanted Peter Mandelson to be in post as “quickly as humanly possible”.
“The very first formal communication of this to my predecessor from No 10 private office, being that they wanted all this done at pace and Mandelson in post before inauguration.”
He added: “So that's the situation I faced. So I'm afraid what that translated into for my team in the Foreign Office - and certainly the handover briefing I was getting as I arrived at post - was what I felt was a generally dismissive attitude to his vetting clearance.”
'Very, very strong' expectation to appoint Mandelson, Sir Olly says
09:13 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins has said he was subject to a “very, very strong expectation” from Downing Street that Lord Mandelson should be appointed as soon as possible.
He said that upon arriving as permanent under-secretary on 20 January last year, he “wasn’t walking into a vacuum” and arrived to a due diligence report that had assessed his reputational risks and fitness for office.
At the time, Lord Mandelson’s name had been submitted to the King and had been given low-classification IT and access to the building.
He said: “So I’m afraid I walked into a situation in which there was already a very, very strong expectation, and you will have seen the papers released already under the humble address, coming from No 10 that he needed to be in post and in America as quickly as humanly possibly.”
Sir Olly Robbins says there was a 'dismissive approach' to Mandelson vetting
09:08 , Holly EvansFormer Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins said there was a “dismissive approach” to vetting from No 10 in Lord Mandelson’s case.
Sir Olly has been blamed by Downing Street for not alerting ministers that UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommended against Peter Mandelson being granted security clearance.He is now giving evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee, but said in a letter before that there was an “atmosphere of pressure” around the appointment.
Sir Olly Robbins to appear before Foreign Affairs Committee
09:01 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins is due to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee shortly, to give his version of events in the lead up to Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
He is scheduled to appear before MPs at 9am.
Badenoch says Mandelson appointment is an issue of 'national security'
08:53 , Holly EvansKemi Badenoch has said it is her job to hold the prime minister to account, and said that this appointment was an issue of national security.
"There are still things that I know are not true," the Tory leader told BBC Breakfast, as she says "the most important thing is this is an issue of national security".
Mrs Badenoch adds: "National security is not something a prime minister should be playing with."
She continued: "My job as leader of the opposition is to hold this government to account," Badenoch replies.
Watch live: Olly Robbins gives evidence after being sacked by Starmer
08:41 , Holly EvansQuestions sacked Foreign Office official will answer today
08:38 , Athena StavrouSir Olly Robbins is due to answer questions in Parliament today in a testimony that could prove extremely damaging to Sir Keir Starmer’s defence and leadership.
The civil servant, who was the most senior official in the Foreign Office, was sacked last week after it emerged the department overuled a UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommendation to grant Peter Mandelson clearance to be US ambassador.
Downing Street have blamed Sir Olly for failing to tell ministers or anyone in No 10 about the vetting failures.
But his allies have defended him, saying he has been "thrown under the bus" and felt pressured to clear the political appointment and bound by law to not share the UKSV recommendation with ministers.
Here are some questions the sacked civil servant is expected to be asked:
- Why did officials recommend Mandelson fail his vetting?
- Why did he not tell No 10 at any point?
- Did anyone explicitly tell Robbins to override the vetting?
- Did he seek legal advice on whether to share the vetting outcome?
- Is it normal for vetting to be done after appointment announced?
Why The Independent’s evidence from last September is a problem for Starmer
08:28 , Holly EvansAs he set out his defence to the House of Commons, Sir Keir Starmer was asked multiple times by MPs, including the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, about The Independent’s front page story on 12 September last year that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting.
More damaging still are the WhatsApp messages sent by this publication to the then director of communications in Downing Street, Tim Allan, raising the issue on 11 September.
This has been described by a number of civil servants and senior politicians as the “smoking gun” in the entire scandal, because it is at odds with the prime minister’s own assessment.
Read the full article here from our political editor David Maddox:
Why The Independent’s evidence from last September is a problem for Starmer
Watch: I ‘steered clear’ of Mandelson, Miliband says
08:11 , Holly EvansMiliband ‘warned’ ministers against Mandelson appointment and didn’t want him in his ‘orbit’ as Labour leader
08:05 , Athena StavrouSpeaking to the BBC, Ed Miliband repeated claims he made earlier that he had in fact “warned” government ministers about his concerns ahead of Peter Mandelson’s appointment.
The energy secretary said he “didn’t want Peter Mandelson in my orbit” when he became Labour leader in 2010, adding those in the party “knew my view” on the former Labour Peer.
Asked if he warned the prime minister directly, he said: “I didn't have a conversation with him directly. I talked to others in government about it.
“I had long history with Peter Mandelson. In 2010 when I became Labour leader I said I didn't want Peter Mandelson in my orbit for sort of a range of reasons so maybe I wasn't the person that people necessarily ask.
“I think people knew my view on Peter Mandelson.”
Robbins sacking may have broken trust between civil servants and ministers
07:58 , Holly EvansThe chairwoman of the International Development Committee said she is worried “trust might have been broken” between ministers and civil servants following the scandal surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
Labour MP Sarah Champion told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she believes Sir Keir Starmer did not know about Lord Mandelson’s failure to pass security vetting checks before he found out last week.
She also said she believes sacked senior civil servant Sir Olly Robbins, who has been blamed over keeping the Prime Minister in the dark, felt he had to obey procedure.
Ms Champion told the programme: “To be quite honest, I would much rather all of this have been done behind closed doors in a quick inquiry.
“I don’t like the fact that a very senior civil servant has basically taken the brunt for this. This is an HR and a procedural issue that I really think should have been done quietly, not in the public domain.
“I would say absolutely publish the results, but with any sort of HR personnel issue, this isn’t the normal procedure.
“From my point of view, the two things that I’m most concerned about are the security risks that Lord Mandelson may or may not have put us under and our reputation accordingly, but also it’s about our relationship with the civil servants going forward.
“Ministers are incredibly dependent on them and I’m worried that that level of trust might have been broken.”
She added that a leadership challenge is “absolutely the last thing that we want right now”.
Starmer should not resign over Mandelson furore, Miliband insists
07:49 , Athena StavrouEd Miliband has insisted Sir Keir Starmer should resist calls to resign over the Peter Mandelson scandal.
The energy secretary admitted the prime minister made a mistake in appointing the former Labour peer as US ambassador, but defended his position as leader.
“You're asking me should Keir Starmer resign over the appointment of Lord Mandelson, and I’m saying to you, no, I don't think he should.”
He added: “If every time a prime minister made a mistake they resigned, we would shuttle through prime ministers like nobody's business.”
Editorial: The prime minister has survived, but his troubles remain
07:41 , Holly EvansWith the best will in the world, it cannot be ideal that a prime minister has to go to the House of Commons and plead, in effect, that he has not lied to MPs for the not-entirely satisfactory reason that he didn’t know what was going on in his own government.
Early in his statement, which was being listened to in stunned silence, when Sir Keir Starmer declared that the events he carefully chronicled were “incredible”, laughter broke out. Maybe that was because, in the old saying, if you didn’t laugh, you’d cry.
Without using the term, Sir Keir made his case that he was the victim of a “cover-up”, orchestrated by officials in the Foreign Office, and in particular the former head of the diplomatic service, Sir Olly Robbins. Yet Sir Olly may say he was trying to be helpful to ministers and was sticking to the law as he understood it. Soon, he too will have his say.
Read the full editorial here:
Miliband: I ‘steered clear’ of Mandelson and told Lammy I was worried about his appointment
07:36 , Athena StavrouEd Miliband has claimed he spoke to David Lammy about his concerns about Peter Mandelson ahead of his appointment as US ambassador.
The energy minister told Sky News he “steered clear” of Mandelson when he was Labour leader, and that he feared at the time that the decision to hand him the job in Washington would “blow up”.
Asked if he told anyone about these concerns, he said: “I had a conversation with David Lammy about it before the appointment.”
Mr Lammy was foreign secretary at the time of Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
Asked what he said, Mr Miliband added: “I think he was worried about it too.”
Mandelson scandal been a ‘very damaging episode’ for government, Miliband admits
07:30 , Athena StavrouEd Miliband is speaking to broadcasters this morning as he answers questions on behalf of the government on what is expected to be a difficult day for Sir Keir Starmer.
The energy secretary reiterated that Peter Mandelson “should never have been appointed” to be US ambassador.
“This has been a very damaging episode for the government,” he told Sky News.
“I’m sure Keir feels that himself and lessons need to be learned about who gets appointed…and indeed about the process of vetting.
“Keir Starmer has taken responsibility for this error of judgment in appointing Peter Mandelson, and he's been right to do that look on the ins and outs.”
Anxious time for Starmer as Olly Robbins speaks publicly for first time since he was sacked over Mandelson
07:26 , Holly EvansAnalysis by Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
After Sir Keir Starmer set out his side of the story yesterday, today MPs will hear from the man critics say the prime minister “threw under a bus” over the scandal of Peter Mandelson’s failed vetting.
The prime minister spent much of yesterday criticising Sir Olly Robbins in the House the Commons.
Today is his chance to set out his side of the story, as he gives evidence to the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee.
Allies of Sir Olly, dramatically sacked by the PM over the row last week, insist he believes he did nothing wrong.
As a successful career civil servant he is expected to have receipts about what happened and when.
This morning will be a nervous time for No 10.
Mandelson vetting documents with Intelligence and Security Committee
07:20 , Holly EvansThe Guardian reported that the Intelligence and Security Committee, a cross-party group of parliamentarians which scrutinises matters of security, has received vetting documents relating to Lord Mandelson.
The peer was flagged as “high concern” by UKSV and it was recommended that clearance should be denied to him, the Guardian reported.
Sir Keir said in his appearance in the Commons on Monday afternoon that the Government was investigating security concerns relating to Lord Mandelson’s time as US ambassador.
He also said the terms of a probe into Government security vetting have been updated in light of the latest revelations about Lord Mandelson and the inquiry will be led by Sir Adrian Fulford, a senior judge and chairman of the Southport Inquiry.
Donald Trump says Mandelson was a 'really bad pick'
07:10 , Holly EvansUS President Donald Trump appeared to lend support to Sir Keir.
He wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom acknowledged that he ‘exercised wrong judgement’ when he chose his Ambassador to Washington.
“I agree, he was a really bad pick. Plenty of time to recover, however! President DJT”
What is Sir Olly Robbins accused of doing?
07:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Olly Robbins will face a grilling from MPs this morning as he answers questions over the security vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson.
The former head of the Foreign Office has come under fire from the prime minister for failing to inform him that Lord Mandelson failed his security vetting.
Sir Keir Starmer has said Sir Olly learned UK Security Vetting (UKSV) had advised Lord Mandelson be denied clearance, but took the step of overriding their decision.
On Monday night, The Telegraph reported Sir Olly is expected to say he believed telling Sir Keir about the recommendation could be a national security risk.
Sir Olly Robbins to 'claim government pressured him into Lord Mandelson appointment'
06:30 , Alex RossIn a few hours, Sir Olly Robbins will have a chance to respond to the Prime Minister, who blamed the sacked senior civil servant for “deliberately” keeping him in the dark over Lord Mandelson’s failure to pass security vetting checks before taking the Washington DC posting.
Sir Olly, until last week the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, will reportedly tell the Foreign Affairs Committee that the Government pressured him into clearing Lord Mandelson, despite the peer’s relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and business links to Russia and China.
The Times has reported that Sir Olly will use his “box office” appearance at the committee to reveal he did not see the formal recommendation by vetting officials that Lord Mandelson should not be given clearance, while insisting the UK Security Vetting (UKSV) process is only advisory.
Sir Olly Robbins set to speak over Mandelson appointment
05:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe man who has been blamed for the failure to inform the prime minister of Lord Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting will answer questions from MPs on Tuesday.
Sir Olly Robbins will speak to the Foreign Affairs Committee later today.
He was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer last week after Downing Street said the PM had “lost confidence” in him.
He is understood to be “heartbroken” over the decision, with reports he is seeking legal advice on how to proceed.
Full timeline of how Mandelson appointment scandal unfolded as Starmer claims he did not ‘mislead’ MPs
04:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has denied misleading Parliament following extraordinary revelations that Lord Peter Mandelson failed security vetting before his appointment as US ambassador.
The disclosures have sparked fresh questions about who knew what, and when, regarding the peer’s controversial Washington posting and its fallout.
You can read the full timeline of events below:
Watch: Badenoch raises The Independent’s Mandelson revelation in six key questions to PM
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWho is Olly Robbins? Meet the former top civil servant to give evidence after being sacked by Starmer over Mandelson vetting scandal
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Olly Robbins is set to answer questions from MPs on Tuesday over allegations he failed to inform Sir Keir Starmer that Lord Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting.
The former mandarin was sacked from his role in the Foreign Office last week following revelations that the department overruled security vetting for Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US.
But who is he, and what can we expect from his evidence?
You can read more below:
Who is Olly Robbins? The man sacked over Mandelson vetting scandal
Farage’s claim that Reform’s plan to deport refugees will save UK billions ‘not remotely credible’
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAway from the scandal surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment, experts have blasted Reform UK’s immigration numbers as “not remotely credible”.
The party has vowed to review every successful asylum in the past five years and remove anyone found to have entered the country on a small boat or overstayed their visa, under its plans for an ICE-style deportation agency.
It estimates that 400,000 people would be affected, with the majority deported, saving £14.3bn over the next five-year parliament and £137bn overall.
But But Jonathan Portes, economics professor at King’s College London and the former chief economist at the Cabinet Office, doesn’t agree.
You can read Kate Devlin’s full report below:
Farage’s claim Reform’s migrant policy will save billions ‘not remotely credible’
Recap: Two MPs ejected from Commons for accusing Starmer of ‘lying’ over Mandelson appointment
Tuesday 21 April 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneReform UK’s Lee Anderson and Your Party’s Zarah Sultana were both ejected from the House of Commons on Monday after accusing Sir Keir Starmer of lying.
The accusations came during a statement on Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
Ashfield MP Mr Anderson was ordered to leave by the Commons Speaker after asserting Sir Keir had “been lying” throughout the scandal, and complied.
Later, Ms Sultana initially refused the Speaker's offer to depart after branding Sir Keir a “bare-faced liar”. Her defiance led to her being “named” by the Commons Speaker, a procedure that can lead to suspension.
House of Commons rules prohibit MPs from accusing one another of lying or deliberately misleading.
You can read more below:
Two MPs ejected from Commons for accusing Starmer of ‘lying’ over Mandelson
Newsnight asks: Did PM not check whether Mandelson concerns were right?
Monday 20 April 2026 23:43 , James ReynoldsOn BBC Newsnight on Monday, Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds was presented with The Independent’s front page story from last September, reporting on concerns Peter Mandelson had been appointed despite not clearing vetting.
Victoria Derbyshire asked the minister whether, at any stage, Keir Starmer had asked whether it was true that Lord Mandelson had failed the process.
She asked: “Did the prime minister not ask the Foreign Office: ‘Is it true Lord Mandelson failed security vetting?’”
Mr Thomas-Symonds failed to answer the specific question, but said “Number 10 has been asking those questions.”
"Did the prime minister ask the question himself ever?"@vicderbyshire asks Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds if Sir Keir Starmer questioned whether Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting before being made US ambassador.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/iZ1zTqAScR
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) April 20, 2026
Final hour to register to vote in local elections
Monday 20 April 2026 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneYou have just one hour left to register to vote in local elections across England, Scotland, and Wales in May.
The polls will elect members to the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd in Wales. In England, a substantial 5,013 council seats are contested across 136 local authorities, alongside elections for six local mayors.
This marks England's largest local election cycle in three years, complementing the 2021 parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales.
Applications can be submitted online at gov.uk/registertovote.
ISC chairman urges government to 'expedite' Mandelson disclosures
Monday 20 April 2026 22:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) chairman has urged the government to “expedite” the disclosure of information related to the Foreign Office’s handling of Lord Mandelson’s vetting.
Labour peer Lord Beamish said: “We’ve now got the vetting documentation to consider but what about the decision-making process within the Foreign Office to reject the recommendation of the vetting, or the failure to vet, Peter Mandelson?
“Again, I’ve been told by the Cabinet Office nothing exists.
“Well, can I stress to (Lords Leader Baroness Smith of Basildon) that if it does exist, could she somehow expedite that information to ensure it gets to the ISC as quickly as possible?”
In her response, Lady Smith said: “It may be that there are documents that weren’t available in the first tranche but they should be available in the second or later, because it’s been very clear to everybody – I think the prime minister (Sir Keir Starmer) was extremely clear on this today – that all information should be available, and the humble address should be complied with in full.”
Committee told documemnts about Mandelson's vetting 'didn't exist'
Monday 20 April 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneParliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) was told documents about Lord Peter Mandelson’s vetting “didn’t exist”, its chairman has said.
The ISC is tasked with looking at potentially sensitive documents related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US, while the government publishes less sensitive documents.
Lord Beamish said: “In February of this year, we asked the Cabinet Office to prioritise all the documentation relating to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
“When we received that information, there was no documentation concerning his vetting. We raised this with the Cabinet Office, only to be told that it didn’t exist.
“The Guardian on Thursday last week indicated that the document did exist. We’ve now received that and will be considering it this week at one of our meetings.”
Sketch: Keir Starmer is the man who knew too little… which is one thing we can be sure of
Monday 20 April 2026 21:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Keir Starmer is the man who knew too little… which is one thing we can be sure of
Recap: Starmer faces 'one of the worst crises in relations between ministers and mandarins'
Monday 20 April 2026 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe prime minister is facing on of the “worst crises in relations between ministers and mandarins of modern times”, a former cabinet secretary has said.
Mandarins is a term used for high-ranking senior civil servants who help ministers to shape policy.
Gus O’Donnell said that the dismissal of Sir Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office head, risks having a “serious and sustained chilling effect” on serving civil servants.
Sir Olly was sacked from his role after it emerged he had not informed Sir Keir Starmer that Lord Peter Mandelson had failed his vetting for his role as US ambassador.
Mr O’Donnell wrote in The Times that Sir Keir and his new cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo must ensure that rebuilding the relationship with civil service heads is “one of their very top priorities”.
Watch: Starmer says it “beggars belief” he wasn’t told about latest Mandelson revelations
Monday 20 April 2026 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Olly Robbins believed telling Starmer of UKSV recommendation could be national security risk, reports say
Monday 20 April 2026 20:20 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Olly Robbins is expected to tell MPs on Tuesday he was concerned that telling the prime minister Lord Peter Mandelson had failed a security vetting could be a national security risk, according to reports.
The Telegraph has said Sir Olly is expected to suggest telling the PM could have undermined confidence in the confidentiality of such processes when he gives evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Starmer grilled over Independent front page on Mandelson vetting failure amid desperate fight for survival
Monday 20 April 2026 20:04 , Nicole Wootton-CaneEvidence from The Independent left the prime minister facing serious questions over what he knew about Peter Mandelson failing security checks before his appointment to become ambassador to the US.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and a number of MPs asked the prime minister why he did not take action when The Independent contacted his then director of communications Tim Allan about Lord Mandelson failing the vetting and then ran a front page story.
In a grim outing in the Commons for Sir Keir, the prime minister insisted he, all his ministers and Downing Street only found out that UK Security Vetting had advised Lord Mandelson should be denied clearance on Tuesday evening last week, describing the situation as “incredible” and said it “beggars belief”.
Political editor David Maddox, who first reported Lord Mandelson’s failed security vetting, has the full story:
Starmer grilled over Independent front page on Mandelson amid fight for survival
Who is Sir Olly Robbins?
Monday 20 April 2026 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Olly Robbins first emerged into the spotlight during the tumultuous Brexit years.
The Oxford-educated 50-year-old was a central figure behind former prime minister Theresa May’s troubled Brexit deal and was consistently criticised for his role in negotiations, as well as by Eurosceptics for thwarting the process.
He took charge of negotiations with the EU mid-way through talks, after then Brexit secretary David Davis was sidelined because of a lack of progress, but the deal was rejected repeatedly by the Commons.
Before his Brexit fame, he had worked for every prime minister since Sir Tony Blair and was known as a highly influential but low-profile civil servant.
He left government in 2019, before Boris Johnson took office, and worked for Goldman Sachs as a managing director of the bank’s investment banking division, and for Hakluyt, a global strategic advisory firm.
Sir Keir brought Sir Olly back into Government by appointing him head of the Foreign Office in January 2025.
He had been in the job just three weeks when the decision regarding Lord Mandelson was made.
He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, an honour given for extraordinary services abroad, in Baroness May’s resignation honours.
Who is Olly Robbins? The man sacked over Mandelson vetting scandal
Former head of Foreign Office expected to be grilled by MPs
Monday 20 April 2026 19:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe former head of the Foreign Office will be called before MPs to speak about the Mandelson vetting scandal on Tuesday.
Sir Olly Robbins was effectively sacked last week over his handling of Lord Mandelson’s vetting process to be US ambassador.
Sir Olly will reportedly mount a staunch defence of his decision to approve Lord Mandelson’s appointment when he gives evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee tomorrow, which could throw Sir Keir’s government into further disarray.
A friend of Sir Olly told The Times that he was furious at the way he had been treated and was prepared to make clear to MPs that he had followed the correct procedure when he apparently kept Sir Keir in the dark about the vetting failure.
Emergency debate on Mandelson will take place on Tuesday
Monday 20 April 2026 19:21 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAn emergency debate on the government’s accountability in relation to the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson will take place in the Commons on Tuesday, following an application by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
Who has called for Sir Keir Starmer to step down?
Monday 20 April 2026 19:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneOpposition leaders have called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, with Kemi Badenoch claiming it is “simply not possible” Sir Keir wasn’t aware Lord Mandelson had failed his vetting process.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said the situation shows “catastrophically poor judgement” and said that the evidence suggests that Sir Keir misled the public and parliament.
Green leader Zack Polanski has said that the revelations should lead to Sir Keir’s resignations, adding: “Any other outcome would be an absurd scenario where this Labour government - and all in it - would be laughing in our faces”.
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage has said that the prime minister “has misled parliament”, adding that he has “lied to the public”. He said: “Enough is enough. It’s time to get Starmer out”.
How the Mandelson vetting scandal unfolded after The Independent’s revelation was published
Monday 20 April 2026 18:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer is once again at the centre of a political storm over his ill-considered appointment of Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador.
The latest chapter of the scandal has revealed that the former Labour peer was granted developed vetting status by the Foreign Office – despite UK Security Vetting (UKSV) advising against the appointment.
Downing Street has denied that anyone in No 10 – including the prime minister – was aware that Mandelson had failed UKSV vetting until recently.
But questions have been raised about the extent of knowledge within Downing Street, after it was revealed that The Independent had made No 10 aware of claims Mandelson had failed vetting last September.
You can read how the scandal unfolded below:
How the Mandelson vetting scandal unfolded after Independent’s story was published
Starmer finishes taking questions
Monday 20 April 2026 18:09 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has finished taking questions from MPs on the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson - at least for today.
The prime minister did not shy away from apologising for appointing Lord Mandelson despite knowledge of his relationship with Epstein, but said it was “staggering” he had not been told Lord Mandelson failed his security vetting.
Analysis: Why The Independent’s evidence from last September is a problem for Starmer
Monday 20 April 2026 17:54 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAs he set out his defence to the House of Commons, Keir Starmer was asked multiple times by MPs, including the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, about The Independent’s front page story on 12 September last year that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting.
More damaging still are the Whatsapp messages sent by this publication to the then director of communications in Downing Street Tim Allan raising the issue on 11 September.
This has been described by a number of civil servants and senior politicians as the “smoking gun” in the entire scandal, because it is at odds with the prime minister’s own assessment.
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox and Whitehall editor Kate Devlin set out why the evidence is so important below:
Why The Independent’s evidence from last September is a problem for Starmer
Zarah Sultana removed from House of Commons after calling Starmer 'bare-faced liar'
Monday 20 April 2026 17:42 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Lindsay Hoyle has removed Your Party MP Zarah Sultana from the House of Commons after she would not withdraw the claim that Sir Keir Starmer is a “bare-faced liar”.
Liberal Democrat MP cites Independent exclusive over Mandelson's failed vetting
Monday 20 April 2026 17:26 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLiberal Democrat MP has cited The Independent’s exclusive report that Lord Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting in the Commons.
He said The Independent first reported Lord Mandelson had failed the check on 12 September.
On 16 September the same claim was made in the Commons, he said.
“Hearing this information, did the minister or the prime minister feel the need to ask if the specific claim there was true, and in the response that was given, that DV clearance was granted by the FCDO, as a KC how did he not see the clear difference between the question that was asked and the answer that was given?”, he asked.
No 10 officials carried out 'right procedure', Starmer says
Monday 20 April 2026 17:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has said that his officials carried out the “right procedure” in the last few weeks once the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary became aware that Lord Mandelson had failed his security vetting.
The prime minister said: “Nobody in Number 10 was informed about UKSV’s (United Kingdom Security Vetting) recommendation.
“The Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary did receive information recently and then sought the necessary and legal advice.
“Once those checks were completed by the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, I was told.
“That is in the last two weeks or so. That was entirely the right procedure – to get the legal advice and then to bring it to my attention at the first opportunity.
“It was the right procedure that was followed by my officials in the last few weeks.”
Sir Olly Robbins did not believe he was allowed to tell Starmer of vetting outcome, PM says
Monday 20 April 2026 17:05 , Nicole Wootton-CanePrime minister Sir Keir Starmer has said former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins did not tell him the recommendation of United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) because he did not believe he was allowed to.
Sir Keir told MPs: “He (Sir Olly) should have provided this information to me, and he could have provided it to me.
“He’s giving evidence tomorrow, but I can say to the House that, when I spoke to him on Thursday, his view to me was that he couldn’t provide this information to me, because he wasn’t allowed to provide information to me.
“I don’t want to put words in his mouth, because it’s very important he gives his own evidence.”
The prime minister added: “What he (Sir Olly) said to me was, essentially, that he took the view that this process did not allow him to disclose to me the recommendation of UKSV.
“No doubt he’ll be asked further questions about that. That is the reason that he gave to me.”
Sir Keir earlier said that he asked Sir Olly why he did not disclose the information, and that he “did not accept his explanation”.
Watch: Keir Starmer sets out timeline of Peter Mandelson vetting process
Monday 20 April 2026 17:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneReform UK MP kicked out of chamber for accusing Starmer of lying
Monday 20 April 2026 16:50 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Lee Anderson has been asked to leave the Commons after he accused Sir Keir Starmer of lying about Peter Mandelson’s vetting process.
The Reform UK MP said: “The problem the prime minister has got is no one believes him…so does the prime minister agree with me he’s been lying.”
When asked by the Speaker to withdraw the accusation, he refused and added: “that man couldn’t lie straight in bed.”
Analysis: Why The Independent’s evidence from last September is a problem for Starmer
Monday 20 April 2026 16:44 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Keir Starmer has now been asked multiple times by MPs in the Commons including Tory leader about The Independent’s front page story on 12 September last year that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting.
More damaging are the WhatsApp messages to the then director of communications in Downing Street Tim Allan raising the issue on 11 September.
The reason this has been described by a number of civil servants and senior politicians as the “smoking gun” is because it is at odds with the prime minister’s own assessment.
Sir Keir claimed that he, his ministers and Downing Street only found out about the security vetting failure last week. But The Independent informed Downing Street’s most senior security official months before.
It also raises serious questions about what the prime minister was told in September by his then director of communications.
In normal circumstances these issues are raised through the system and lead to investigations about the truth. Most crucially they are raised with the prime minister and should have been a red flag.
But it seems that nothing happened and the warnings were ignored.
PM does not rise to suggestions No 10 bounced into confirming Mandelson appointment through leak
Monday 20 April 2026 16:40 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer did not respond to suggestions No 10 had been bounced into confirming Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador after the appointment was leaked.
This was raised by chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Dame Emily Thornberry, who said: “Somebody, probably Peter Mandelson himself, leaked to the press his appointment as US ambassador, effectively bouncing the Government into confirming it.
“But then when the confirmation did come forward about his appointment, it did not make clear that it was subject to vetting in either the offer letter to Peter Mandelson or in the government’s press release.
“I am afraid to say, doesn’t this look like for certain members of the Prime Minister’s team, getting Peter Mandelson the job was a priority that overrode everything else, and that security considerations were very much second order?”
In his response, the prime minister repeated that he would not have made the appointment had he been told that he failed security vetting.
He added: “A deliberate decision was taken to withhold that material. This was not a lack of asking. This wasn’t an oversight. It was a decision … taken not to share that information on repeated occasions.”
