Starmer Fires Senior U.K. Civil Servant Over Mandelson Revelations
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed Olly Robbins, the top civil servant in the Foreign Office, after revelations that Peter Mandelson, former ambassador to the US, had failed security vetting but was still appointed last year.
- Mandelson was removed as ambassador in September amid a scandal involving his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which has troubled Starmer's government for months.
- Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in Robbins following reports that the Foreign Office concealed Mandelson's failed vetting from ministers, a fact Starmer only learned this week.
- Opposition leaders have called for Starmer's resignation, accusing him of misleading Parliament and the public, but senior minister Darren Jones stated Starmer is not considering stepping down as he was unaware of the vetting breach.
- Jones announced a full review of the security vetting process and suspended government officials' ability to override vetting recommendations, with Starmer set to address Parliament on the matter Monday.
