Former Cabinet Secretary Demands Reinstatement of Sacked Diplomat Olly Robbins
A former cabinet secretary has publicly called for Sir Olly Robbins to be reinstated after his brutal dismissal by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The demand comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the security vetting process for Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the United States.
Sedwill's Strong Defense of Robbins
Lord Mark Sedwill, who previously served as Britain's most senior civil servant, issued a powerful statement defending Sir Olly Robbins' actions. "He shouldered his responsibilities rather than shunting them," Sedwill declared, directly challenging the prime minister's decision to terminate Robbins' position.
The former cabinet secretary went further, explicitly calling on Sir Keir to "reinstate him to the job the country needs him to do of getting the diplomatic service into shape for the second quarter of the 21st century." This intervention represents a significant escalation in the political fallout from the Mandelson appointment controversy.
Explosive Testimony Reveals Pressure Atmosphere
The controversy stems from Sir Olly Robbins' explosive testimony before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday. The former Foreign Office chief revealed there had been a "dismissive approach" to security vetting from Number 10 and an "atmosphere of pressure" to push through Lord Mandelson's appointment despite security concerns.
Robbins explained that when he assumed leadership of the Foreign Office in January last year, Mandelson had already:
- Completed the Cabinet Office's "due diligence" process
- Received approval from both the King and the United States government
- Been granted access to "highly classified briefings" on a case-by-case basis
All this occurred before his formal security clearance had been confirmed, creating what Robbins described as unprecedented procedural pressure.
The Prime Minister's Position
Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the Commons on Monday, stating he had challenged Sir Olly Robbins about why he went against the explicit recommendation of UK Security Vetting officials. The prime minister indicated he did not accept Robbins' explanation for this decision.
Number 10 has firmly rejected Robbins' characterization of events, drawing a distinction between "the idea of pressure" and "being kept informed about the process and the progress of the appointment." This represents the government's official counter-narrative to the claims made during Tuesday's testimony.
Civil Service Concerns Escalate
The dismissal has sent shockwaves through Whitehall, with Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA trade union representing senior public servants, accusing Sir Keir of creating a "real chill throughout the civil service."
Penman warned BBC Newsnight: "I think the prime minister is losing the ability to work with the civil service. Who in the civil service would now think they would be immune from when it is politically expedient to be dismissed? That's not a place any government wants to be because it doesn't deliver for the people of the country."
This criticism highlights broader concerns about political interference in civil service operations and the potential erosion of impartial bureaucratic processes.
Sedwill's Detailed Critique
In his social media statement following Robbins' testimony, Lord Sedwill elaborated on his position with remarkable specificity:
- The prime minister appointed Peter Mandelson against official advice
- The appointment was announced before security vetting had been completed, again contrary to official guidance
- The government claims it would have reconsidered had it known about vetting concerns regarding Mandelson's previous conduct
Sedwill emphasized that Robbins' professional judgment centered not on informing the prime minister about known issues, but on whether those concerns could be sufficiently mitigated to allow Mandelson access to secret intelligence necessary for his diplomatic role.
"He took the professional judgement that they could," Sedwill stated. "Unwisely as it turned out, he shouldered his responsibilities rather than shunting them."
The former cabinet secretary concluded with a direct appeal: "The prime minister should retract his accusations against Olly Robbins and reinstate him."
This developing situation continues to expose deep tensions between political leadership and civil service independence, with significant implications for diplomatic appointments and national security protocols moving forward.
