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

Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper expressed a loss of confidence in Sir Olly, it is understood

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

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

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

Lord Simon McDonald says Mandelson scandal is the biggest crisis in the diplomatic service in decades

Exclusive: Helen MacNamara calls Starmer’s decision to sack Olly Robbins ‘unacceptable’

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