Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office chief who was dismissed over the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal, has given his account of events to MPs. Appearing before the foreign affairs select committee, Robbins claimed he faced 'constant pressure' to expedite Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, and accused Downing Street of a 'dismissive' attitude towards the vetting process.
Robbins' testimony comes a day after Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused him of 'obstructing the truth' during a high-stakes parliamentary appearance. The sacking and subsequent row have intensified scrutiny of the government's handling of the vetting procedure for senior diplomatic posts.
The former official's explosive statements are expected to fuel further debate over the transparency and integrity of the appointments process. The foreign affairs committee is likely to continue its investigation into the matter.
