In a startling revelation, a former high-ranking official from the Foreign Office accused the Prime Minister’s office of showing indifference towards the need to screen Peter Mandelson before his assignment. Sir Olly Robbins disclosed to a parliamentary committee that there was uncertainty about vetting the individual dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” before his deployment to Washington, adding further strain on Keir Starmer, who faces political turmoil following revelations that UK Security Vetting did not approve Mandelson’s clearance.
The Prime Minister expressed anger at not being informed of the situation, resulting in Sir Olly’s dismissal. During a detailed interrogation by the Foreign Affairs Committee, the ousted official made several uncomfortable disclosures, including being pressured to secure an ambassadorial role for one of the Prime Minister’s key aides.
Sir Olly highlighted the urgency to place Mandelson in his role as swiftly as possible and emphasized that there was a prevailing expectation from No10 for his immediate deployment to the United States before Trump’s inauguration.
Moreover, Sir Olly indicated that there was a lack of emphasis on Mandelson’s vetting process itself, with the primary focus being on expediting his relocation to Washington. He mentioned that there was persistent follow-up from No10 inquiring about the completion of vetting, with little regard for the details but a strong emphasis on the timeline.
The former civil servant highlighted that there was initial ambiguity regarding the necessity of vetting Mandelson due to his status as a member of the House of Lords and a privy counsellor. Despite concerns raised by UK Security Vetting, it was ultimately decided that any issues could be managed effectively.
Sir Olly underscored the importance of maintaining confidentiality in the vetting process, expressing alarm at the leak of information surrounding Mandelson’s clearance status and stressing the potential national security implications of such breaches.
He also addressed the pressure he faced regarding the vetting process and clarified that his team diligently followed the required procedures, despite reservations from some within the government. Sir Olly emphasized that while external pressures existed, they did not compromise the integrity of the vetting process.
In response to queries about potential interference in the vetting process, Sir Olly declined to name individuals and emphasized his commitment to upholding the established procedures without succumbing to external pressures.
He further expressed regret over not being given the opportunity to address concerns before his dismissal and highlighted the critical nature of confidentiality in national security matters.