Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Sir Olly Robbins has been removed from his post following revelations that Peter Mandelson was granted the UK ambassadorship to Washington after initially failing Developed Vetting security clearance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now facing calls to resign from the Conservatives, Reform UK and the Greens, who accuse him of misleading Parliament.
What happened
On the evening of 16 April 2026, Downing Street confirmed that Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper had lost confidence in Robbins. The move came hours after the Guardian reported that security officials had initially refused Mandelson's Developed Vetting clearance, and that Foreign Office officials had taken the rare step of overruling that recommendation.
A government spokesperson stated: "Neither the Prime Minister, nor any Government Minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted Developed Vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week."
The timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2025 | Mandelson takes up post as UK ambassador to Washington |
| September 2025 | Mandelson sacked after the depth of his ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is revealed |
| March 2026 | First batch of documents confirms Starmer was warned of "general reputational risk" before the appointment announcement |
| 15 April 2026 | Guardian reports that UK Security Vetting initially refused Mandelson clearance |
| 16 April 2026 | Robbins sacked; former Foreign Secretary David Lammy states he was unaware of the override |
Why this matters
The appointment of Mandelson — a political appointment rather than a career diplomat — to the UK's most prestigious diplomatic post has been dogged by controversy since its announcement. Mandelson is currently under police investigation on suspicion of passing market-sensitive information to Epstein during his time as a minister under New Labour.
According to The Spectator, UK vetting rules mean that final decisions on difficult vetting questions and any waiver process ordinarily rest at permanent secretary level. That points to Robbins — as the then-Permanent Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office — as the official most likely to have authorised the clearance override.
The political fallout
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it "preposterous" to claim Starmer did not know Mandelson had failed security vetting, saying: "If the Prime Minister doesn't know what's happening in his own office, he shouldn't be in charge of our country. He should go."
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Starmer should have informed Parliament at the earliest opportunity when he learned what had happened earlier this week. Under the Ministerial Code, ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to stand down.
What happens next
Starmer has instructed officials to establish the facts about why vetting was granted, and the Foreign Office said it is "working urgently" to comply. An interim permanent under-secretary is expected to be appointed in the coming days while a permanent replacement is sought.
The affair raises broader questions about the separation of powers between ministers and career civil servants in national security appointments, and about the transparency of the Developed Vetting process itself.
Frequently asked questions
The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute political, legal or financial advice. Readers should consult official government sources for definitive information.
What is Developed Vetting?
Developed Vetting (DV) is the highest level of UK national security clearance. It involves extensive background checks, interviews with the candidate and their referees, and a review of financial, personal and associational history. DV is required for individuals with regular, uncontrolled access to TOP SECRET information.
Can a Prime Minister override a failed vetting?
Legally, the Prime Minister has no formal role in individual security vetting decisions. Vetting sits outside ordinary civil service management powers. Final decisions on difficult vetting cases ordinarily rest at permanent secretary level within the relevant department.
Could Starmer face a vote of no confidence?
Opposition parties have called for his resignation but have not yet tabled a formal motion of no confidence. Such a motion would require cross-party support to succeed, which is not currently in evidence.
Who is Olly Robbins?
Sir Olly Robbins is a career civil servant best known for leading the UK's Brexit negotiations as the Prime Minister's Europe Adviser between 2017 and 2019. He was appointed Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2024.
