The top civil servant at the Foreign Office has resigned after a Guardian investigation revealed his department overruled a decision to deny Peter Mandelson security clearance. Sir Olly Robbins stepped down after it emerged that Mandelson failed a developed vetting process in January 2025, but Foreign Office officials used a rarely invoked authority to override the recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV).
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced calls to resign over the affair, with Downing Street insisting he had no knowledge of the vetting decision until this week. A government spokesperson said: "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." No 10 insiders said Starmer was "furious" about being kept in the dark.
The Guardian understands that Robbins was told he had to resign after Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in him. Robbins had co-signed a letter to MPs in September stating that Mandelson's vetting was "conducted to the usual standard." The decision to overrule UKSV was taken by officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), but it remains unknown who specifically made the call.
Opposition leaders have demanded accountability. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that if the prime minister misled the House of Commons, he "must take responsibility." Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey added: "If Keir Starmer has misled parliament and lied to the British people, he has to go." Starmer previously stated that Mandelson had been given "clearance for the role."
Further documents are due to be released, but senior officials have considered withholding from parliament papers that would reveal the vetting denial. The Cabinet Office has yet to decide on this, and any attempt to withhold them from the Intelligence and Security Committee could breach a parliamentary motion demanding all documents related to Mandelson's appointment. Downing Street said it was "committed to complying" with the motion.
