Sir Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has been forced to resign following a Guardian investigation revealing that his department overruled a decision to deny Peter Mandelson security vetting clearance for his role as US ambassador.
Mandelson failed a developed vetting process in January 2025, a highly confidential background check by security officials. The Foreign Office used a rarely invoked authority to override the recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV). Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted he had no knowledge of the override until this week and has ordered an investigation.
Downing Street said Starmer was “furious” about being kept in the dark. The prime minister previously stated that Mandelson had received “clearance for the role”, raising questions about whether he misled the public. The Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Starmer “has to go” if he misled parliament, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch demanded he take responsibility.
The Guardian understands that Robbins was told to resign after Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in him. It remains unknown which Foreign Office official made the decision to overrule UKSV.
Further documents are due to be released, but senior officials have considered withholding those revealing Mandelson’s failed vetting from the Intelligence and Security Committee. Any such move could breach a parliamentary motion requiring full disclosure.
