Sir Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has been forced to resign following a Guardian investigation that revealed his department overruled a decision to deny Peter Mandelson security vetting clearance. Mandelson, appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as UK ambassador to Washington, failed a developed vetting process in January 2025, a highly confidential background check by security officials.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) used a rarely invoked authority to override the recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV), a Cabinet Office division. Downing Street insisted Starmer had no knowledge of the denial until this week, and that responsibility lay with the FCDO. The prime minister was reportedly furious upon learning of the decision.
Opposition leaders have called for Starmer's resignation if he misled parliament. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated the prime minister must take responsibility, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Starmer should go if he lied. The government has released 147 pages of documents on the appointment, but the vetting failure was not previously disclosed.
Senior officials are considering withholding from parliament documents that would reveal Mandelson was denied clearance, potentially breaching a parliamentary motion demanding all papers related to the appointment. Downing Street said it is committed to complying, with redactions only for national security or international relations, and that such documents would be provided to the Intelligence and Security Committee.
