Top civil servant ousted after Foreign Office overruled Mandelson vetting

Lord Peter Mandelson outside his London home following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office in March (Lucy North/PA) - (PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure and a top civil servant is to leave their post after it emerged the Foreign Office overruled a security vetting process to clear Lord Peter Mandelson to become UK ambassador to the US.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have lost confidence in Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Sir Olly Robbins over the issue and he will be leaving the job, the Press Association understands.