Sir Olly Robbins, the UK Foreign Office’s top civil servant, has been forced to resign after the department overruled a security vetting failure for Peter Mandelson, paving the way for his appointment as US ambassador. The Guardian understands that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in Robbins, leading to his departure.
Mandelson was initially denied developed vetting clearance in late January 2025 following a highly confidential background check. Despite this, Foreign Office officials used a rarely exercised authority to override the recommendation from security officials. Robbins, who had been permanent secretary for only three weeks at the time, was involved in the decision.
Starmer, who insiders said was furious, only learned of the vetting failure on Tuesday this week. Cooper became aware when the Guardian broke the story on Thursday. Both concluded that Robbins could no longer remain in post after a meeting at Downing Street.
Robbins, a former Brexit negotiator with extensive experience in international affairs, had returned to the civil service in early January 2025. His short tenure was marked by the complex global landscape, including the return of Donald Trump and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The departure has sparked political fallout, with opposition parties calling for Starmer to resign. Labour MP Chris Curtis described Robbins’ exit as “the right decision” but stressed the need for broader accountability. A government spokesperson emphasised that the decision to grant vetting against security advice was taken by officials at the Foreign Office, not ministers.
