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

Robbins response to ‘cover-up’ question reveals debate over Mandelson vetting file

Olly Robbins appearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee at Parliament
Olly Robbins appearing before the foreign affairs select committee. Photograph: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA

Olly Robbins responded to a question about an alleged “cover-up” on Tuesday by confirming that government officials had considered withholding Peter Mandelson’s secretive vetting documents from parliament.

Robbins, who was sacked by Keir Starmer as the Foreign Office’s top civil servant last week, appeared to confirm a report in the Guardian that senior officials were debating whether to withhold from parliament sensitive documents that revealed the vetting agency did not believe Mandelson should get clearance.

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