The Foreign Office's top civil servant, Sir Olly Robbins, has been forced to resign after a Guardian investigation revealed that his department overruled a decision to deny Peter Mandelson security clearance for his role as US ambassador.
Mandelson failed a developed vetting process in January 2025, a highly confidential background check by security officials. Despite this, Foreign Office officials used a rarely used authority to override the recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV).
Downing Street insisted Prime Minister Keir Starmer had no knowledge of the vetting decision until this week and said responsibility lay with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Starmer is said to be 'furious' about being kept in the dark.
The revelation raises questions about whether Starmer misled the public when he said Mandelson had received 'clearance for the role'. Opposition leaders have called for Starmer to resign if he misled parliament.
Senior officials are also considering whether to withhold documents from parliament that would reveal Mandelson failed vetting, potentially breaching a parliamentary motion to release all papers relating to his appointment.
