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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Paul Lewis, Henry Dyer and Pippa Crerar

Revealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision

Composite image of Peter Mandelson, Keir Starmer, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office main building
The decision from UKSV raised the prospect of Starmer having to withdraw a high-profile appointment he had already made public. Illustration: Guardian Design/Getty

The top civil servant in the Foreign Office has been forced out after a Guardian investigation revealed his department overruled a decision to deny Peter Mandelson security vetting clearance.

The departure of Sir Olly Robbins follows the disclosure, based on multiple sources, that Mandelson had in January 2025 failed a developed vetting process, a highly confidential background check by security officials.

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