Sir Keir Starmer is facing a backlash from some Labour MPs amid the ongoing fallout over the vetting of Peter Mandelson - as he prepares for further questions at PMQs on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, former Foreign Office boss Sir Olly Robbins, who was sacked last week, claimed there had been an “atmosphere of pressure” to get Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US over the line.
Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Committee, he said that Downing Street had a dismissive approach to vetting and wanted Lord Mandelson in Washington “as soon as humanly possible”. The claim was rejected by No 10, but later some Labour MPs voiced discontent during an emergency debate in the Commons called by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
Labour MP for Bradford East, Imran Hussain, said he wanted an independent inquiry into the “whole situation”, and for “consequences” for the prime minister. Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, Ian Byrne, called for “a thorough review of the political operation which brought the prime minister to power” and warned of a “toxic culture” that had taken hold of No 10.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told an event on Tuesday that she backed the under-fire prime minister, insisting there “is no leadership contest” when asked about the possibility of challengers to Sir Keir’s authority.
Key Points
- Robbins says No 10 had 'dismissive approach' to Mandelson vetting
- No10 tried to find diplomatic job for former Starmer aide Matthew Doyle
- Yvette Cooper 'extremely concerned' by claim No 10 tried to make Doyle an ambassador
- Analysis: Olly Robbins reveals cronyism under Starmer is worse than we ever thought
- ISC yet to receive latest tranche of Mandelson files
What have we learned about Lord Mandelson's appointment?
06:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDowning Street has been forced to defend allegations of a “toxic” culture in No 10 following evidence given by Sir Olly Robbins on Tuesday.
Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Committee, the former head of the Foreign Office said his team overruled advice from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) not to grant Lord Mandelson clearance as No 10 had made it clear they wanted Lord Mandelson in Washington “as soon as humanly possible”.
Sir Keir Starmer has told his Cabinet that Sir Olly Robbins made an “error of judgment” in failing to inform him of Lord Mandelson’s vetting failures, while Downing Street denied claims of a dismissive approach to the process.
The prime minister is also facing pressure over revelations Downing Street sought to find an ambassador’s job for his former head of communications Lord Matthew Doyle.
Lord Doyle was then stripped of the Labour whip this year after his links to a convicted paedophile were revealed.
Pressure on PM ramps up as Labour MPs turn on him over Mandelson scandal
05:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePressure is mounting on the prime minister as members of his own party turn on him over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.
During ex-mandarin Sir Olly Robbins’ evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, he revealed Downing Street had attempted to find an ambassador’s job for Lord Matthew Doyle without informing David Lammy, who was then the foreign secretary.
Lord Doyle was the prime minister’s communications chief before he was promoted to the House of Lords in December last year.
He was then stripped of the Labour whip over his links to a convicted paedophile.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said the alleged failure to inform Mr Lammy of the plans were “extremely concerning”.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband said he had concerns at the time that Lord Mandelson’s appointment would “blow up”.
Labour’s Imran Hussain called for an independent inquiry into the “whole situation” around the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson, and for “consequences” for the prime minister.
Speaking in the Commons during an emergency debate on Tuesday, Mr Hussain said: “Surely, there needs to be a full, transparent and independent inquiry on this whole situation that uncovers the truth and leads to consequences, including for the prime minister.”
But chancellor Rachel Reeves insisted on Tuesday evening there “is no leadership contest”.
Labour peer Baroness Margaret Hodge also backed the prime minister to stay in post, telling Newsnight: “He will carry on being prime minister. He still has authority. He shows it in all sorts of ways. He shows it on the international stage in a brilliant way. He shows it in his determination to tackle the cost of living.”
Recap: Why The Independent’s evidence from last September is a problem for Starmer
04:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAs he set out his defence to the House of Commons on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer was asked multiple times by MPs, including the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, about The Independent’s front page story on 12 September last year that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting.
More damaging still are the WhatsApp messages sent by this publication to the then director of communications in Downing Street, Tim Allan, raising the issue on 11 September.
This has been described by a number of civil servants and senior politicians as the “smoking gun” in the entire scandal, because it is at odds with the prime minister’s own assessment.
Sir Keir claimed that he, his ministers and Downing Street only found out about the security vetting failure last week. But doubt has been cast on this claim because The Independent informed Downing Street’s most senior communications official months before.
You can read more on why The Independent’s reporting is proving a headache for the prime minister below:
Why The Independent’s evidence from last September is a problem for Starmer
Comment: The fatal weakness that left Keir Starmer in thrall to Peter Mandelson
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneEven as a lawyer, Starmer was a ditherer and a pedant, says Chris Blackhurst – and it is becoming obvious that he saw in the disgraced ambassador a natural politician he was desperate to impress.
The fatal weakness that left Keir Starmer in thrall to Peter Mandelson
Analysis: Olly Robbins reveals cronyism under Starmer is worse than we ever thought
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe sacked Foreign Office chief gave evidence to MPs over the Mandelson scandal – and exposed the rotten core of Keir Starmer’s government, says political editor David Maddox.
Robbins reveals cronyism under Starmer is worse than we ever thought
Inquiry under way into Lord Mandelson vetting leak, says No 10
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAn inquiry into the leak of information relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s security vetting is under way, the Government has said.
Information was given to The Guardian after the Cabinet Office briefed Number 10 on the matter.
Responding to an emergency debate on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones told the Commons: “I am sure the House will be as concerned as I am that whilst officials felt unable to provide this information to ministers, this information was made available to The Guardian newspaper.
“As a consequence of that, I can confirm that a leak inquiry is now under way.”
You can read the full report below:
Inquiry under way into Lord Mandelson vetting leak, says No 10
Trump says Starmer made ‘really bad pick’ in Peter Mandelson
Wednesday 22 April 2026 00:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDonald Trump has gotten involved in the Peter Mandelson scandal, accusing Sir Keir Starmer of making a “really bad pick” in appointing him as ambassador to the US.
The US president said he agreed with Sir Keir that he had “exercised wrong judgment” when he chose the Labour peer to be Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
Mr Trump appeared to show some support for Sir Keir after he faced MPs on Monday to apologise for the appointment and joked there was “plenty of time to recover”.
“Prime minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom acknowledged that he “exercised wrong judgement” when he chose his Ambassador to Washington,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I agree, he was a really bad pick. Plenty of time to recover, however! President DJT.”
Watch: How the Mandelson vetting scandal unfolded after The Independent’s revelation was published
Wednesday 22 April 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneISC yet to receive latest tranche of Mandelson files
Tuesday 21 April 2026 23:08 , Nicole Wootton-CaneParliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) says it has still not received all the files relating to the appointment and vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson.
The committee is set to review all documents the government believe could pose a security risk and make any redactions they deem necessary.
Lord Beamish, chair of the ISC, said they had been told they would receive all documents by April 10, but this had not happened.
Sky News reports Lord Beamish said: "We still have not received all remaining material. All of those documents which the government did provide to the committee within the agreed timetable were considered by the committee as a matter of priority."
He continued: "None of those documents relate to the vetting process," and said the ISC was only given the first two documents relating to vetting at 8.30am on Monday.
"The committee understands that further documents relating to vetting are still to be provided to it," Lord Beamish said, adding it was "disappointing" they haven't received them yet.
PM is losing his ability to work with civil service, union boss says
Tuesday 21 April 2026 22:39 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDave Penman, head of the civil service union the FDA, said Sir Olly Robbins feels he has been “sacked for doing the job he was asked”.
“The prime minister asked him to clear and get the vetting sorted for Lord Mandelson,” he said on Newsnight. “He did that, and now he has paid a price for doing that and he thinks that’s unfair.”
He added he believes the sacking is “extraordinary” and “sends a real chill through the civil service”.
“I think the prime minister is losing the ability to work with the civil service,” he added.
'Grim' few days for country, Maragret Hodge says, but insists PM will stay on
Tuesday 21 April 2026 22:36 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLabour peer Baroness Margaret Hodge has said it has been a “grim” few days for the country, but insisted the prime minister will stay on.
“He will carry on being prime minister,” she said on Newsnight. “He still has authority. He shows it in all sorts of ways. He shows it on the international stage in a brilliant way. He shows it in his determination to tackle the cost of living.
“He is going to have to tackle the issues that have arisen this time.”
She said there is “a lot of work” to be done to repair trust between politicians and civil servants following the sacking of Sir Olly Robbins.
No 10 ‘secretly pushed Olly Robbins to give ambassador job to disgraced Starmer aide’
Tuesday 21 April 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneNo 10 secretly pushed for one of Sir Keir Starmer's key aides to be given a top diplomatic job, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office has told MPs, in another embarrassing revelation for the Labour government.
The prime minister’s ex-communications chief, Matthew Doyle, who was promoted to the House of Lords in December last year, was stripped of the Labour whip earlier this year over his links to a convicted paedophile.
But Sir Olly Robbins told members of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that before Lord Doyle was made a peer, there was pressure from Downing Street to find him an ambassadorship.
Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has this report:
No 10 ‘secretly pushed Olly Robbins to give ambassador job to disgraced Starmer aide’
Ed Miliband: I feared Mandelson’s appointment appointment would ‘blow up’
Tuesday 21 April 2026 21:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSenior ministers in Sir Keir Starmer’s government harboured significant reservations about his decision to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said both he and then-foreign secretary David Lammy had worries about Lord Mandelson being given the job as ambassador to the US because of the risk it could “blow up”.
He told Sky News: “You’re saying he should never have been appointed and I agree with you.”
But Mr Miliband insisted the prime minister should not lose his job over the scandal.
He said: “I think prime ministers make errors. Prime ministers are fallible. Prime ministers are human.”
You can read more below:
Ed Miliband: I feared Mandelson’s appointment appointment would ‘blow up’
Reaction: Does Olly Robbins’ testimony signal the end for Starmer?
Tuesday 21 April 2026 21:16 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWestminster watchers have had their popcorn out over the last 24 hours.
On Monday, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was grilled for two hours by MPs. A day later, Sir Olly Robbins, ex-Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office, meticulously responded to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The result: more doubts over Keir Starmer’s handling of Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
This week on In The Room, former Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Helen MacNamara, and ex-No.10 Special Advisor, Cleo Watson, give their reaction. They discuss how Olly Robbins delivered many hammer blows to Starmer in today’s testimony and why fresh questions over the appointment of Matthew Doyle could be the Prime Minister’s ultimate undoing.
New episodes of In The Room drop every Friday. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
In The Room | Does Olly Robbins’ testimony signal the end for Starmer?
Editorial: The prime minister has survived, but his troubles remain
Tuesday 21 April 2026 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUntil Keir Starmer’s defence for his handling of the Mandelson vetting scandal – which amounts to ‘nobody told me’ – can be disproven, it must be accepted. But this feels like an administration not in control of events, and he must get a grip.
Starmer made a ‘mistake’ appointing Lord Mandelson, says Welsh FM
Tuesday 21 April 2026 20:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Labour First Minister of Wales has described the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the US as a “mistake”.
Speaking on Channel 4 News, Baroness Eluned Morgan said Sir Keir Starmer had “called the shots correctly” on the “big picture issues”.
Lady Morgan came to the prime minister’s defence in February after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on the Sir Keir to quit, describing him then as an “honourable man”.
On Tuesday, Lady Morgan told Channel 4: “He made a mistake in appointing Mandelson, I would never have appointed him.
“Mandelson’s brand of Labour politics is alien to Welsh Labour politics.”
Asked whether she still thought Sir Keir was the best leader for Labour, Lady Morgan said: “I think in an age of instability, I think when you’ve got global peril, when it’s costing people in terms of petrol prices and their oil prices, what you need is somebody who calls the shots correctly on the big picture issues.
“That’s what he’s done when it comes to the situation in the Gulf.”
Watch: Rigorous process followed' in Peter Mandelson appointment decision, says Olly Robbins
Tuesday 21 April 2026 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneStarmer would be out if Labour had 'viable alternative', McDonnell says
Tuesday 21 April 2026 20:13 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLabour MP and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said Sir Keir Starmer would be out of a job if the party had a “viable alternative”.
Speaking to Sky News, the MP for Hayes and Harlington said: “I think in any other circumstances, if there was a viable alternative, I think Keir himself would be standing down. [But] there isn't.
"We're in the middle of a war, so I think he'll stumble on, and I think that will happen after the May elections as well."
'No leadership contest', Reeves insists
Tuesday 21 April 2026 20:09 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRachel Reeves has insisted there is “no Labour leadership contest” and suggested holding one would be destabilising for the economy.
It comes after a difficult few days for the prime minister, who has seen some of his own backbenchers call for him to face “consequences” over his appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.
Appearing at the National Growth Debate in central London after Angela Rayner, who some believe could challenge for Sir Keir Starmer’s job, the chancellor was asked about the economic impact of a Labour leadership contest.
Ms Reeves replied: “Well, there is no Labour leadership context, and I do not want to go down the route the Conservatives went down, of three prime ministers in five years and five chancellors I think during that timeline.
“Because that is one of the things that contributed to the instability and the lack of investment in the last parliament, and that is exactly what we want to turn around.
“We promised stability, we said that economic growth being built on a platform on stability, investment and reform.
“But stability is the foundation of everything else, and that requires stable politics and stable economic policy as well.”
Comment: The UK can’t claim to take national security seriously at all after these Mandelson revelations
Tuesday 21 April 2026 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThis week we have seen the sorry spectacle of politicians and civil servants squirming over matters of national security - that’s a failure of their most sacred duty, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
The UK can’t claim to take national security seriously at all after these revelations
Recap: UKSV flags were not about Epstein, Robbins says
Tuesday 21 April 2026 19:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Olly Robbins has said that the risks flagged by UKSV as part of their recommendation to deny Peter Mandelson security clearance were not related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Lord Mandelson was sacked from his job as US ambassador last September after further light was shed on his ties to the financier.
But Sir Olly told the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday morning that the reason that security services raised concerns with Lord Mandelson was not related to this issue.
“I was also told that the risks did not relate to Lord Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” he said.
“And that I was told that UKSV acknowledged, I don't know in what way, but acknowledged that the Foreign Office might wish to grant clearance with appropriate risk management.”
Robbins hopes ‘prosecutions will follow’ over leak
Tuesday 21 April 2026 19:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Olly Robbins told MPs it was deeply worrying that the story of Lord Mandelson’s failing vetting was given to The Guardian within days of the Cabinet Office briefing No 10 on the issues.
“I’m not making accusations at anybody, it’s not my business to do so,” he told the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday.
“I hope they’re being very rigorously investigated, and that prosecutions will result, because this is a grievous breach of national security.”
UK airlines not currently seeing shortage of jet fuel, No 10 insists
Tuesday 21 April 2026 19:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUK airlines have told the government they are not currently struggling with a shortage of jet fuel, a Downing Street spokesperson has said.
The prime minister discussed the government’s work to ease pressures caused by the Iran conflict with ministers and officials at a meeting of the Middle East Response Committee on Tuesday afternoon, they added.
“The discussion focused on the government’s ongoing work to ease pressures being felt here in the UK,” the spokesperson said.
“This included the diplomatic activity to promote progress on negotiations, and bring back security and stability for the region, and the military planning to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The prime minister acknowledged the impact of the war in the Middle East will be felt beyond the end of the conflict, and stressed the importance of protecting British families.”
They added MPs discussed a “range of ongoing contingency planning” including working with fuel suppliers, airlines, and international counterparts.
“UK airlines are clear that they are currently not seeing a shortage of jet fuel, and it is right that the government continues to work with industry to ensure we closely monitor the situation,” they said.
“They said it was right that this government is introducing wider measures to strengthen long-term resilience, including measures announced today to accelerate breaking the link between gas and electricity prices to support families and businesses under pressure and exposed to volatile gas prices.”
Govt must 'go further' to help ordinary people, Rayner says
Tuesday 21 April 2026 18:38 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe government must “go further” in its programme to help ordinary people, Angela Rayner said.
The former deputy prime minister listed the Government’s efforts to strengthen renters rights and employment rights, as well as bring down living costs as she spoke at the National Growth Debate.
Ms Rayner added: “Now it’s time to go further. Creating jobs that are secure and that are fairly paid, making life more affordable and shifting the balance to communities is the growth strategy that I believe that we need right now,
“Stopping the extraction and the hoarding of wealth and power and letting ordinary people who are working to create the growth get the benefits of what they build tackling the rip offs.”
She later hit out at Labour’s opponents, telling the gathering: “Yet all of this was opposed by Reform and the Tories, and sometimes joined by the Greens as well. So called populists are not the solution. They’re part of the problem.
“There could not be a worse time to swallow the false answers that they offer. We haven’t yet seen the full impact of the Iran war but I think everyone here feels the dread of the consequences. This is exactly why we need to keep investing in renewable energy, so that we are not at the mercy of other people’s wars.”
'More important questions out there' than Mandelson scandal, Rayner says
Tuesday 21 April 2026 18:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThere are “more important questions out there” than the latest twists in the Peter Mandelson scandal, Angela Rayner has said.
Speaking at the National Growth Debate in central London, the senior Labour MP joked that she too had been “glued to my live feed this morning, hanging on every word”, adding: “And I refer, of course to your panel, Louise Hague and Chris Curtis.”
Referring to the day’s events in Westminster, where sacked former civil servant Sir Olly Robbins gave his evidence about the appointment of Lord Mandelson, Ms Rayner added: “I’ll let this sink in to any journalists that are here. There’s some more important questions out there, and it’s on that note that I want to just take a moment at the end of the day to reflect on why all this matters, and to the world outside and beyond the bubble.”
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP added: “Right now, ordinary people feel that their lives are too hard and that the basics of a good life are unaffordable.
“They suspect that this is because of an economy and a system that is rigged in favour of vested interests, and they’re right.
“This affordability crisis has been decades in the making, over and over ordinary people feel that they’ve paid the price for every crisis, the financial crash, austerity, Brexit, Covid.”
Robbins asked if No 10 told Foreign Office to ‘just f***ing approve’ Mandelson vetting
Tuesday 21 April 2026 18:05 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir 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.
In his evidence to MPs on Tuesday (21 April), Sir Olly was quizzed by Dame Emily Thornberry about whether Mr McSweeney called Sir Philip Barton, Sir Olly’s predecessor, asking him to speed up the vetting approval for Mandelson by saying “just f***ing approve it.”
Downing Street has denied that Foreign Office officials had been “nagged or cajoled or bullied” by Mr McSweeney, and denied an “atmosphere of pressure.”
Key points after Robbins gives evidence to MPs
Tuesday 21 April 2026 17:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFormer head of the Foreign Office Sir Olly Robbins gave evidence to MPs this morning as he sought to explain why Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment went ahead, despite a failed security vetting.
Here are some of the key points from Sir Olly’s testimony:
– ‘Constant’ pressure from Downing Street over the process
Sir Olly said there had been “constant chasing” from the private office at No 10 while vetting took place after Lord Mandelson was announced as Sir Keir Starmer’s pick for the Washington job. However, he would not say who had been involved.
– Lord Mandelson was a ‘borderline’ case
Sir Olly said he had been briefed that UKSV considered the peer a “borderline” case but it was leaning towards recommending clearance be denied. The risks identified did not relate to Lord Mandelson’s relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, Sir Olly added.
– Cabinet Office ‘suggested vetting might not be needed’
The former senior official told MPs there had been a “debate” between the Cabinet Office and the Foreign Office over how to send Lord Mandelson to Washington with the appropriate clearance. “A position taken from the Cabinet Office was that there was no need to vet Mandelson,” Sir Olly said, citing his previous experience and appointment as a peer.
You can read more below:
Every revelation from Robbins’ bombshell evidence over Mandelson
Darren Jones insists 'no pressure applied' by No 10 over Mandelson appointment
Tuesday 21 April 2026 17:29 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe chief secretary to the prime minister has said no “pressure was applied” by Number 10 for Lord Peter Mandelson to be cleared by security vetting.
Darren Jones told the Commons: “There is suggestion that Number 10 applied pressure on officials at the Foreign Office in relation to the security vetting process.
“It was confirmed in testimony today before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that no such pressure was applied beyond asking for the process to be completed as quickly as possible, and by Sir Olly Robbins that no personal contact was made of him by a telephone or message.”
Mr Jones also refused to say whether the government would contest any employment claim from Sir Olly, saying he is “not at liberty to comment in respect of any potential claim to the employment tribunal”.
Leak inquiry underway after newspaper reports on Mandelson scandal
Tuesday 21 April 2026 17:21 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA leak inquiry is underway after newspaper reports revealed Foreign Office officials had overruled a recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) regarding Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment.
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Darren Jones, chief secretary to prime minister, said an inquury was underway following The Guardian’s reporting last week.
Addressing MPs, he said: “I’m sure the House will be as concerned as I am that, whilst officials felt unable to provide this information to ministers, this information was made available to The Guardian newspaper.
“As a consequence of that, I can confirm that a leak inquiry is now under way.”
Exclusive: Farage urged to act against Reform local election candidates with racist, misogynistic and homophobic views
Tuesday 21 April 2026 17:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAway from the Mandelson scandal, The Independent’s political editor David Maddox exclusively reports that Nigel Farage is under pressure to disown a string of Reform UK local election candidates over social media posts.
Reform has been plagued by vetting issues and vowed to clean up its candidates following a series of “abhorrent” incidents, including one who stood down last month after a photo of him appearing to perform a Nazi salute resurfaced.
But The Independent has found that three of its candidates have professed extreme views on social media, with Labour demanding they are suspended even though it is now too late for them to be withdrawn as candidates.
You can read the full report below:
Farage urged to act against candidates with racist, misogynistic and homophobic views
Full report: No 10 put ‘constant pressure’ on Foreign Office to get Mandelson in post
Tuesday 21 April 2026 17:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneKeir Starmer is under fresh pressure after the top civil servant sacked over the Mandelson scandal claimed the Foreign Office was under “constant pressure” to approve his role as US ambassador regardless of the outcome of security vetting.
In an extraordinary two-hour-long session, Sir Olly Robbins also told MPs No 10 had tried to fix a diplomatic role for a long-term Labour adviser and Starmer ally – who has since been promoted to the Lords but suspended from the party over his links to a convicted paedophile.
Sir Olly said that No 10 had a dismissive approach to vetting and wanted Peter Mandelson in Washington “as soon as humanly possible”.
The Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin and political reporter Athena Stavrou have this report:
No 10 put ‘constant pressure’ on Foreign Office to get Mandelson in post
Robbins sacking has had 'chilling' effect on civil service, union boss says
Tuesday 21 April 2026 16:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe sacking of former head of the Foreign Office Sir Olly Robbins over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson has had a “chilling effect” on the civil service, a union boss has said.
Dave Penman, who heads up civil service union the FDA, told Sky News Sir Olly was a "committed public servant" who had "spent half his life trying to protect the national security of this country".
He added: "Most civil servants will conclude that Olly Robbins has been sacked for doing his job, doing a difficult job that the prime minister asked him to do...
"That has a chilling effect for the civil service - that actually if you do the things that you're supposed to do, if you serve the government of the day when it is politically expedient, you are going to be dismissed so publicly and shamefully."
Labour MP calls for 'consequences' for PM
Tuesday 21 April 2026 16:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLabour MP Imran Hussain has called for an independent inquiry into the “whole situation” around the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson, and for “consequences” for the prime minister.
The Bradford East MP said: “At the heart of this is a toxic and dismissive culture at Number 10. That’s a point we cannot get away from.
“That dismissal has led us to this place. This is not a small administration breach. It’s a matter of national security.
“The British public is not buying it.
“Surely we should be saying there needs to be a full, transparent, independent inquiry into this whole situation to uncover the truth – that’s what the British public want – with consequences for including the prime minister.”
Who is Lord Matthew Doyle?
Tuesday 21 April 2026 16:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLord Matthew Doyle is a former No 10 director of communications who was made a peer after leaving Downing Street in March 2025.
He was then suspended from the House of Lords earlier this year over revelations he campaigned for ex-Labour councillor Sean Morton, who who admitted indecent child image offences in 2017.
Sir Olly Robbins told MPs earlier on Tuesday that Downing Street had initiated discussions with him about the prospect of making Lord Doyle an ambassador.
He said he “felt quite uncomfortable” about the suggestion, which he was asked to keep from then-foreign secretary David Lammy, and had warned that it would be “hard for me personally to defend”.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lord Doyle said: “I have never sought any head of mission, ambassador or any equivalent leadership-type posting.
“I was never aware of anyone speaking to the FCDO about such a role for me.
“My desire after leaving No 10 was to stay in UK politics.”
A squirming Sir Olly Robbins has just about let the PM off the hook – for now
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:54 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins is clearly a nice man. Big, slightly bear-like, confident, punctilious, smart. He is what you might call the civil servant’s civil servant, working for four PMs in 30 years of public service, including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Theresa May as her chief Brexit negotiator. He really did, he says, see himself as the sort of chap who “gets things done” and works the process to ensure things happen.
Fundamentally, and now with some associated regrets, getting things done is precisely what he was trying to do for Keir Starmer with Peter Mandelson, and ended up being sacked for his troubles.
He was here in front of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to talk about that sacking, following the revelation that he had failed to relay a ruling from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) to allow Mandelson’s appointment to the role of ambassador to Washington.
Read the full analysis from Sean O’Grady here:
A squirming Sir Olly Robbins has just about let the PM off the hook – for now
Matthew Doyle says he 'never sought' any ambassadorial role
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:40 , Holly EvansFormer Downing Street director of communications Lord Matthew Doyle said he had “never sought” any ambassadorial role.
He said: “I have never sought any head of mission, ambassador or any equivalent leadership-type posting.
“I was never aware of anyone speaking to the FCDO about such a role for me.
“My desire after leaving No 10 was to stay in UK politics.”
Labour backbencher warns of 'toxic culture' taking over Downing Street
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:40 , Holly EvansA Labour backbencher has called for “a thorough review of the political operation which brought the Prime Minister to power”, as he warned of a “toxic culture” which has taken hold of No 10.
In the Commons, Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby, said Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment “reflects a wider direction under the Prime Minister, where those behind the Labour Together project wielded significant influence in developing this toxic culture, which has been allowed to take hold of number 10 and the governing of our country”.
“It points to a political culture that lacks candour, exists to promote wealth and power and ignores all else in pursuit of this,” he added.
Mr Byrne continued: “(Sir Olly) Robbins will be a loss to the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) and the country, all brought about by a series of catastrophic political decisions by number 10.
Badenoch accuses Starmer of being 'a man with no idea what he believes'
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:34 , Holly EvansKemi Badenoch has said Sir Keir Starmer has “no interest in doing the job of Prime Minister, just in being the Prime Minister”.
Speaking in the Commons, she said: “If we cannot trust our Prime Minister to tell the truth about this ambassadorial appointment, the whole full truth, a key appointment in Britain’s national security architecture, it calls into question the assurances he gives us on everything else.
“His promises not to control taxes, which he has broken, his promises not to raise borrowing, which he has broken, promises to back business, protect our veterans, defend our farmers, and prioritise growth, all of which he has broken.
“And he has broken them because, at his core, he is a man with no idea what he believes.
“Worse still, he appears to have no interest in doing the job of Prime Minister, just in being the Prime Minister.”
She added: “It is clear that the Prime Minister has no intention of facing up to his mistakes. It’s clear now that he is not a leader and he has no intention of doing honourable thing.”
Badenoch: PM’s claim No 10 was not aware of vetting failures despite The Independent telling them ‘doesn’t add up’
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:25 , Athena StavrouKemi Badenoch has drawn on The Independent’s journalism in the Commons to prove it “doesn’t add up” that no one in No 10 was aware of Peter Mandelson’s vetting failures.
Downing Street has insisted no one in No 10 knew UKSV had recommended against Mandelson being granted security clearance - despite The Independent’s Political Editor, David Maddox, having put the claims to the prime minister's then-director of communications Tim Allen last September.
Speaking during her emergency debate on Tuesday the Conservative Party leader said "enough people in Whitehall knew for journalists from the Independent” to find out.“
Journalists have released texts with the prime minister’s Director of Communications where they made No 10 aware of this fact,” she said.
Loyalist Labour MP says Starmer has been 'let down by those around him'
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:19 , Holly EvansA Labour MP who remains loyal to Sir Keir Starmer has said that he has been “let down by those around him” and has accepted his mistake.
Matthew Western claimed that his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had “leant on” officials and pushed them to appoint and proceed with Lord Mandelson.
He said: “The prime minister, in my experience of having known him since 2017, he is absolutely straight as a die. He may have accepted that advice and maybe that advice has now proven to be wrong. But he has been let down by those around him.
“He’s made a mistake, he understands that and he’s accepted it.”
Watch: Badenoch accuses Starmer of hiding behind ‘human shield'
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:12 , Holly EvansTory leader calls for vote of no confidence in PM
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:02 , Holly EvansConservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said that it is time for Sir Keir Starmer “to go” and agreed there should be a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
Mrs Badenoch said: “The decision about whether he will ultimately take responsibility for his actions is now up to Labour MPs. We heard many powerful statements from that side of the House yesterday.
“Labour MPs know that the Prime Minister has let the country down, he’s let Parliament down, and he’s also let the Labour Party down. It is clear to everyone, except the Prime Minister himself, that he has failed on his own terms.
“It is clear to the public that he is failing at the job, it is clear to civil servants that he is throwing them under the bus, and it is clear to members across this House that he is not fit to lead.
“This cannot go on. This House deserves better. The country deserves better. The Prime Minister is not fit for Office. The first duty of any Prime Minister is to keep this country safe. This Prime Minister has put the country’s national security at risk. He must take responsibility. It is time for him to go.”
Badenoch accuses Starmer of thinking 'one rule for him and another for everyone else'
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:51 , Holly EvansKemi Badenoch said she thought it is “inconceivable” that nobody in Downing Street knew that Lord Peter Mandelson had not passed vetting ahead of becoming UK ambassador to the US.
She said: “I still find it inconceivable that despite that failure of vetting being a frontpage news story, no one in Number 10 was aware of it. He cannot deny that his decision put Britain at risk, and the British public deserve to know how this failure happened, and they deserve to hear it from the Prime Minister himself.”
She added: “Let’s move on to the Prime Minister’s claim that no one in Number 10 was aware that Mandelson had failed his vetting, because enough people in Whitehall knew. Enough people knew for journalists from the Independent, the Mail and Sky News to find out.”
The Tory leader said Sir Keir did not say he inadvertently misled the House on Monday, because he had said in 2022 that Boris Johnson should have resigned if he had done so.
Mrs Badenoch said: “Either he is a man of his word, or he thinks there is one rule for him and another for everyone else.”
Badenoch accuses Starmer of hiding behind a ‘human shield' as he misses debate
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:43 , Athena StavrouSir Keir Starmer is not present in the Commons as Kemi Badenoch launches a scathing attack on the prime minister during in her emergency debate.
The Conservative Party leader said “it is no surprise” that Sir Keir did not attend the debate, and accused him of sending another minister in his place as a “human shield.“
He cannot deny that his decision put Britain at risk and the British public deserve to know how this failure happened and they deserve to hear it from the prime minister himself,” she said.
“There remains serious questions about the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson. But the prime minister does not want to answer any more questions today.
“So in typical fashion he has thrown someone else under the bus. So I feel for the minister sent out as a human shield for the prime minister."
Idea No10 is victim of others is 'laughable', says Badenoch
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:41 , Holly EvansConservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the idea that Downing Street is the victim of others not following due process is “laughable”.
She said: “And we now know that Mandelson wasn’t a one off, according to Sir Olly Robbins, number 10 also asked for the disgraced Matthew Doyle, the Prime Minister’s then director of communications, to be made an ambassador. Astonishingly, the Prime Minister’s office even told Robbins to keep this request a secret from the Foreign Secretary.
“The idea that it is number 10 who are the victims of others not following due process is, quite frankly, laughable.”
Badenoch accuses Sir Keir of failing to follow process
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:35 , Holly EvansThe Tory leader has accused Sir Keir of failing to follow process, and that it was “most extraordinary” that Lord Mandelson was appointed before vetting was undertaken.
Kemi Badenoch said: “He [Starmer] mentioned the word 'process' more than a hundred times in parliament yesterday, but he was the one who didn't follow that process."
She then listed the "bombshell" revelations made by Sir Olly Robbins to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday morning.
Ms Badenoch said: "According to Robbins, constant pressure on the Foreign Office to get the appointments done by the prime minister... placed top secret intelligence in the hands of a man he knew to be a national security risk.
"None of this was following full due process by the letter or the spirit of that phrase. This is no longer just about what the prime minister was or wasn't told. This is about what he did before the vetting process had even started."
Starmer sent a 'serious known national security risk' to US ambassador role, Badenoch says
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:30 , Holly EvansKemi Badenoch has criticised Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons for sending a “known national security risk” to Washington to serve as US ambassador.
The Tory leader said: “The prime minister personally decided to appoint a serious known national security risk to our most sensitive diplomatic post.
“Peter Mandelson was not just a man who had already been sacked twice from government for lying, not just a man who had a public relationship with a convicted paedophile, but a man with links to the Kremlin and China. Links so close that they were raised as red flags with the Prime Minister before his appointment.”
She added that she could now “overstate how serious a matter this is” that Lord Mandelson had been privy to top secret intelligence.
She said: “What if he had seen something and leaked it to one of our enemies? We cannot even be sure that didn’t happen.”
Starmer has not considered position over Mandelson errors
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:24 , Holly EvansDowning Street has said Sir Keir Starmer will not resign, amid calls for him to step down over the Peter Mandelson crisis.
When asked if he had considered his resignation, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “No, but you've heard from prime minister that he made a mistake in appointing Peter Mandelson.”
He added: “The prime minister is completely focused every day on delivering for working people up and down this country, responding to their key concerns, whether it's cost of living, reducing immigration, delivering on NHS waiting lists.”
Emergency debate begins
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:20 , Holly EvansTory leader Kemi Badenoch has taken to her feet to begin the emergency debate, in the wake of Sir Olly Robbins’ damning evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee this morning.
Emergency debate on Lord Mandelson vetting to begin soon
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:07 , Holly EvansAn emergency debate on the topic of Lord Mandelson’s vetting procedures is due to begin shortly.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch applied for the emergency Commons debate about the scandal, telling MPs it was “a matter of national security because the Prime Minister has admitted appointing a known serious security risk to our most sensitive diplomatic post”.
There was nothing stopping Olly Robbins from sharing vetting concerns, Downing Street insists
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:04 , Athena StavrouSir Olly Robbins set out this morning that he did not share the UKSV recommendation with ministers in order to protect the highly sensitive nature of the vetting process.
Downing Street said on Tuesday that the prime minister has acknowledged Sir Olly is “absolutely right” that confidential details shared in the process should remain confidential in order to “maintain the integrity of that process”.
However, the prime minister’s official spokesperson insisted that Sir Keir believes the UKSV recommendation itself should have still been shared.
“There was nothing stopping Olly Robbins from sharing that information,” he said.
“As demonstrated by the fact that the cabinet secretary and the permanent secretary to the Cabinet Office shared that information themselves with the prime minister last week, once they gone through the processes.”
Campaign group says Labour leadership making 'catastrophic mis-steps'
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:00 , Holly EvansCampaign group Mainstream said Tuesday’s revelations showed a “culture of centralisation and patronage” at the top of Labour was enabling “catastrophic mis-steps and undermining our relationship with the public.”
The group’s interim council said in a statement: “An already difficult set of elections may now become even harder for the hardworking Labour members and candidates out canvassing tirelessly before May.”
Every revelation from Olly Robbins’ evidence over Mandelson’s appointment
Tuesday 21 April 2026 13:40 , Holly EvansThe former top official at the Foreign Office has hit back at Keir Starmer over the fallout from Peter Mandelson’s security vetting process.
Sir Olly Robbins gave evidence to MPs on the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday after being sacked by Downing Street last week over the decision to grant Lord Mandelson security clearance as US ambassador despite red flags in his vetting.
The saga has become the latest chapter in a scandal which has overshadowed Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership and prompted concerns over the prime minister’s leadership and judgement.
Read the full article here:
Every revelation from Olly Robbins’ evidence over Mandelson’s appointment
Downing Street denies civil servants being 'cajoled or bullied' by McSweeney
Tuesday 21 April 2026 13:21 , Holly EvansDowning Street said civil servants in the Prime Minister’s private office had not been bullied or cajoled by ex-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
No 10 was asked about Sir Olly Robbins’ claim that there was an “atmosphere of pressure” and “constant chasing” from within the private office about Lord Mandelson’s vetting.
Asked whether officials in the office had been “nagged or cajoled or bullied” by Mr McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “No.
“As I said earlier, there is a distinction clearly between asking reasonably for updates on an appointment process … I would draw a distinction between the idea of pressure and, you know, being kept informed about the process and the progress of the appointment.”
No 10 denies 'dismissive' approach to vetting
Tuesday 21 April 2026 13:15 , Holly EvansDowning Street denied showing a “dismissive” approach to Lord Mandelson’s vetting for US ambassador.
Asked whether No 10 recognised the description by Sir Olly Robbins, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said “no”, adding: “There’s clearly a difference between asking for updates on an appointment and the idea of… being dismissive about vetting.”
