Chris Mason: Mandelson nightmare haunts Starmer again, as senior figure effectively sacked

The decision to dispatch Lord Mandelson to Washington has become a recurring nightmare for Sir Keir Starmer. A new chapter in this unfolding crisis has cost another senior figure their position—Sir Olly Robbins, the head of the Foreign Office’s civil service. Some within the opposition and the Labour Party speculate that this could ultimately jeopardize the prime minister’s own leadership.

The Guardian’s revelation

At 15:00 BST on Thursday, the Guardian reported that Lord Mandelson had failed his security vetting, though the Foreign Office had overturned that finding. As soon as the news broke, I reached out to key contacts at the Foreign Office, Downing Street, David Lammy’s team, and the Cabinet Office. For nearly three hours, no one responded. Typically, such developments would prompt immediate calls, but this time, silence reigned.

Opposition’s swift response

By the time the BBC News at Six went live, opposition parties had already drawn conclusions. They gathered in front of cameras to accuse the prime minister of misleading Parliament, suggesting his resignation might be inevitable if the claims were deliberate. As I prepared to report, a government statement arrived on my phone, revealing the prime minister and ministers had been unaware of the final decision.

Internal confusion and blame

Those who worked in No10 at the time insist they had no knowledge of the situation. Friends of Morgan McSweeney, the former chief of staff, claim the prime minister was also in the dark. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office appears to be the focal point of criticism, with some suggesting they knew the outcome but failed to inform senior leaders. This oversight has led Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to dismiss Sir Olly Robbins.

Labour MPs weigh in

The BBC contacted Labour MPs for their take. One said,

“I think we’ve now reached the stage where the prime minister was blissfully unaware is a good explanation.”

Another remarked,

“Lost for words,”

while a third, a longtime critic of Downing Street, added,

“Surely the cabinet now see it’s dead.”

This is the final blow Starmer needs, and it’s far from over.