PM to give Commons statement on Monday, a day before sacked civil servant Olly Robbins tells his side of the story
The next 48 hours will be crucial for Keir Starmer’s troubled premiership as he faces continuing calls to resign over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. On Monday, Starmer will give a statement to the House of Commons on the Guardian’s revelation that Mandelson was allowed to serve as US ambassador despite failing a vetting process run by security officials. On Tuesday, Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, who Starmer sacked on Thursday and is trying to blame for the row, will give his side of the story. Here are the key questions Starmer must answer.
The appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador was known to be risky. Mandelson, who was nicknamed the “prince of darkness”, had been forced to resign twice as a Labour minister. His links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were public knowledge. As were his consultancy Global Counsel’s links to China. So on a basic level, the question is obvious: why did Starmer pick him?
The current crisis facing Downing Street stems from the Guardian’s revelation that United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) said Mandelson should be declined “developed vetting” clearance in late January 2025, only for that advice to be overruled by the Foreign Office so he could take up the post. Starmer has said it was “unforgivable” and “staggering” that officials did not tell him Mandelson was denied UKSV clearance. But was the prime minister made aware there were problems with the vetting process?
