No 10 Had ‘Dismissive Attitude’ Toward Mandelson’s Vetting, Says Ex-Official

Former Official Claims Pressure to Fast-Track Appointment Despite Concerns

Former senior official Sir Olly Robbins alleged that Downing Street approached the vetting process for Lord Mandelson’s UK-US ambassador role with a “dismissive attitude.” The accusation came after Sir Olly was dismissed from his post as Foreign Office chief, following revelations he approved Mandelson’s appointment without informing Sir Keir Starmer about security risks.

During a recent appearance before MPs, Sir Olly asserted that his department faced persistent pressure from No 10 to expedite Mandelson’s confirmation. He claimed there was a strong expectation for the former cabinet minister to assume the post “as quickly as humanly possible.” According to Sir Olly, his predecessor had informed him that Downing Street viewed vetting as “unnecessary” for someone of Mandelson’s stature.

“A position taken from the Cabinet Office was that there was no need to vet Mandelson,” Sir Olly stated. “He was a member of the House of Lords, a privy councillor, and the risks were well known, having been made clear to the prime minister before his appointment.”

Lord Mandelson was appointed in December 2024 and underwent rigorous vetting to secure his security clearance. However, he was removed from the role in September of the previous year after new details surfaced about his close ties with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted child sex offender. Mandelson later expressed regret over knowing Epstein.

Following The Guardian’s report that Sir Olly’s department overruled UKSV’s recommendation to deny Mandelson’s clearance, the controversy resurfaced. Sir Keir Starmer had earlier claimed “full due process” was followed, but critics argued he was unaware of the vetting outcome. The government rulebook stipulates ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament should resign, while unintentional errors must be corrected promptly.

On Monday, Sir Keir denied allegations of misleading MPs, stating he would have made a different decision had he been informed of the UKSV findings. The Conservatives, however, pushed for an emergency debate, arguing he should face a vote of no confidence. Sir Olly insisted his actions were justified, insisting the Foreign Office handled the process “well” and maintained “appropriate risk management.”

Despite not naming individuals behind the pressure, Sir Olly described the vetting process as being approached with a “dismissive attitude” but emphasized he did not “bow to pressure.” He also highlighted that UKSV’s concerns did not center on Mandelson’s Epstein connection, though the specifics remain undisclosed.