Sir Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office who was dismissed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the security vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson, has submitted a legal challenge against his removal. The FDA Union, which represents senior civil servants, announced that Robbins is seeking a judicial review, arguing that the Prime Minister lacked the statutory authority to fire him as head of the diplomatic service.
Claims of Unfair Procedure
In his legal submission, Robbins contends that there was no fair procedure and no process at all in his dismissal. He further claims that the reasons given for his firing were irrational. According to the FDA, the sacking was based on a grievous misunderstanding of how vetting works.
“Rather than being under a duty to tell ministers about the process leading up to the vetting decision, Olly was under an obligation not to. The process is independent of government ministers, who are only informed of the final outcome,” the union stated. They added that this position was confirmed in a letter in September 2025 signed by the Foreign Secretary and using text drafted and approved by Downing Street.
Background of the Dispute
In April 2025, questions were raised over the vetting of Lord Mandelson for his post as ambassador to the United States after The Guardian reported he had failed a background check. However, officials in the Foreign Office took the rare step of overruling this to clear his appointment. Sir Keir subsequently sacked Sir Olly, saying he had not been aware that the former Labour grandee was granted developed vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting.
Robbins' Statement
Sir Olly said: “I bring this action reluctantly. It would have been unnecessary if the Prime Minister had simply apologised for his mistake and made amends for the distress and cost it has caused me and my family. Instead, I now have to ask the Courts to determine that the Prime Minister’s decisions were unlawful, unreasonable and to quash them.”
