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Technology · 16 April 2026

Starmer pushes out Foreign Office chief over Mandelson vetting

Starmer pushes out Foreign Office chief over Mandelson vetting

Sir Olly Robbins is leaving his role as Foreign Office permanent under-secretary after Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in him over the Lord Mandelson vetting row. Robbins headed the department when officials overruled a security vetting denial to let Mandelson become US ambassador in early 2025. Starmer says he only learned of the overruled vetting this week.

Reported by BBC / Guardian / GB News · How we write briefs

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