Olly Robbins Blames Downing Street for Peter Mandelson Vetting Scandal
Former top civil servant Olly Robbins told parliament he was pressured by Downing Street to approve Peter Mandelson's appointment as Britain's ambassador to the US. Robbins said he blamed Number 10, not Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally, for the vetting scandal.
Olly Robbins, a former Foreign Office official, spent hours testifying to parliament about how Peter Mandelson became Britain's ambassador to Washington. Robbins said Downing Street pressured him to approve the appointment despite potential security concerns.
"I'm not here to attack the Prime Minister," Robbins said, but he placed most blame on Number 10's handling of the vetting process. The testimony brought new attention to a scandal that has already weakened Starmer's position.
Starmer had been battling for months to save his job before this latest controversy erupted. He accused Robbins of blocking the truth about how Mandelson's vetting was handled. The Prime Minister has now ordered an investigation into any security concerns about Mandelson's role.
The dramatic day in Westminster included two hours of questions from lawmakers after Starmer made a statement to a packed House of Commons. Critics say the vetting fiasco makes Starmer look like a weak leader who can't control his own government.
This scandal puts more pressure on Starmer, who was already fighting to keep his job. It raises questions about whether proper security checks were done before appointing Britain's top diplomat to America.
Parliament will likely continue investigating the Mandelson appointment process. Starmer's ordered investigation into security concerns will also move forward.
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