As revelations mount and accusations fly, prime minister prepares for MPs’ anger and Olly Robbins’ testimony early next week
Keir Starmer’s claim he was “staggered” not to have been told of Peter Mandelson’s vetting failure has provoked incredulity across Westminster and accusations that he sacked a senior civil servant to save his premiership.
Senior government figures said the prime minister faced “judgment day” next week when Olly Robbins, who is understood to be furious at being forced to quit the Foreign Office, is expected to appear before a powerful committee of MPs.
With Starmer’s position remaining precarious ahead of a statement he intends to make to MPs on Monday, the Guardian revealed on Friday that Starmer was left in the dark about information relating to Mandelson’s security vetting failure by two other top civil servants.
The cabinet secretary, Antonia Romeo, and Catherine Little, the Cabinet Office’s permanent secretary, became aware of the situation last month.
