Listen
Tap play to hear this story.
Sacked Foreign Office permanent secretary Sir Olly Robbins has dropped a bombshell at the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, claiming No 10 put “constant pressure” on officials to fast-track Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador “as quickly as humanly possible”.
Robbins: “Atmosphere of Constant Chasing”
Sir Olly told MPs there was an “atmosphere of constant chasing” for Mandelson’s vetting clearance throughout January 2025. He said Downing Street repeatedly asked “has this been delivered yet?” with “never any interest… in whether, but only an interest in when”.
Starmer Had “Dangerous Misunderstanding” of Vetting
Robbins said the Prime Minister had a “dangerous misunderstanding” of the vetting process and claimed No 10 took a “dismissive attitude” to the issue. He also revealed he was instructed to look for a diplomatic job for Lord Doyle – Starmer’s disgraced former spin doctor – and keep it secret from the Foreign Secretary.
Badenoch: “Devastating” for Starmer
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called the evidence “devastating” for Starmer and said it proves he “misled the House”. Reform UK has repeatedly demanded the Prime Minister’s resignation, with Nigel Farage calling him either a liar or a puppet.
- No 10 put “constant pressure” to fast-track Mandelson
- “Atmosphere of constant chasing” for clearance
- Starmer had “dangerous misunderstanding” of vetting
- Secret job hunt ordered for Lord Doyle
- Badenoch: “Devastating” evidence for Starmer
Reform UK: Starmer’s Cover-Up Exposed
Reform UK has led calls for Starmer’s resignation from day one. Nigel Farage said the affair shows “blatant dishonesty” and a desperate cover-up. Robert Jenrick said Starmer’s judgment is “terrible” and “he should be gone”. The party says this latest testimony proves the scandal goes right to the top of No 10.
What This Means for Britain
This is catastrophic for Starmer. While families face £2,000 energy bills and record small boat crossings, the Prime Minister is now accused of pressuring officials to rush a controversial appointment against security advice. The Mandelson scandal has exposed chaos at the heart of government and a Prime Minister who cannot command his own officials.
Reform UK’s message is clear: Britain needs honest leadership that puts national security and British interests first. With local elections weeks away, voters can reject Labour’s failing government and back the only party that will deliver real accountability and strong borders.
Share if you believe Sir Olly Robbins just destroyed Starmer’s defence.
This article is a factual summary of reporting by The Telegraph. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.
Discover more from Breaking Brexit News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Join the discussion