Sir Olly Robbins was asked whether Morgan McSweeney, the then-chief of staff for Sir Keir Starmer, told the Foreign Office to “just f***ing approve” Peter Mandelson’s security vetting for his appointment as ambassador to the US.
The former Foreign Office chief, who was sacked by the prime minister over the failure to disclose Lord Mandelson’s failed security checks – but he was granted developed vetting (DV) clearance anyway, said there was pressure from Downing Street to clear the appointment.