Starmer says ministers were in the dark, but friends of former top civil servant suggest it was a case of them looking the other way

It comes after it emerged the peer failed security vetting but the Foreign Office still allowed him to take up the post.

Keir Starmer understood to have lost confidence in official over decision to override security vetting failure

Starmer says ministers were in the dark, but friends of former top civil servant suggest it was a case of them looking the other way

Exclusive: Officials have spent weeks debating whether or not to release highly sensitive information about the affair

As revelations mount and accusations fly, prime minister prepares for MPs’ anger and Olly Robbins’ testimony early next week

Inquiries into who knew what, and when, will be pored over in coming weeks and could ultimately decide Starmer’s fate

Simon McDonald says Olly Robbins was ‘thrown under a bus’ by the prime minister and the decision feels wrong

Downing Street takes unusual step of releasing document ahead of PM’s Commons showdown over Mandelson scandal