A former top foreign ministry official said on Tuesday he faced “constant pressure” from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office to accelerate the appointment of Peter Mandelson as its preferred candidate as ambassador to the U.S.
Olly Robbins, who was dismissed last week after ministers said they had lost confidence in him, told a parliamentary committee the process had been treated as a “done deal.”
“I walked into a situation in which there was already a very, very strong expectation ... that he needed to be in post and in America as quickly as humanly possible,” Robbins said.
“I think throughout January (2025), honestly, my office, the foreign secretary's office, were under constant pressure,” he added, describing “frequent phone calls” and an “atmosphere of constant chasing.”
Downing Street rejected the claims, saying there was a difference between pressure and keeping updated on progress.
The dispute centres on the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S., despite concerns linked to his past associations, including ties to the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer has admitted he was “wrong” to approve the appointment and expressed regret, but has blamed officials for failing to inform him that security vetting advisers had raised concerns.
Robbins said the vetting body viewed the case as borderline and leaned against granting clearance — a warning Starmer says he never received.
The controversy has sparked calls for Starmer’s resignation, although Labour lawmakers do not expect an immediate leadership challenge ahead of elections on May 7.
Further criticism emerged after Robbins revealed Downing Street had also pushed for a diplomatic role for Matthew Doyle, prompting concern within the party.
Robbins warned that blocking Mandelson’s appointment at a late stage could have damaged relations with the U.S., as approval had already been secured from King Charles and the U.S. government.
The escalating war of words risks prolonging a political crisis that continues to test Starmer’s leadership.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal as a “stupid proposal,” say...
The public health challenge linked to the emergence of a rare strain of hantavirus is complex, according to pharmacist and health commentator ...
After years of limited engagement, relations between Syria and the European Union are drawing renewed diplomatic a...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (11 May) that the fragile ceasefire with Iran was “on life suppor...
The man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during a Wh...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal as a “stupid proposal,” saying Tehran failed to commit to abandoning its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, while warning the fragile ceasefire was on “massive life support”.
After years of limited engagement, relations between Syria and the European Union are drawing renewed diplomatic attention as both sides explore cooperation on migration, security and regional stability..
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (11 May) that the fragile ceasefire with Iran was “on life support” after he dismissed Tehran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal, raising fears the 10-week conflict could reignite and further disrupt global energy supplies.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal as a “stupid proposal,” saying Tehran failed to commit to abandoning its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, while warning the fragile ceasefire was on “massive life support”.
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the Georgian Orthodox Church at a meeting of clergy in Tbilisi following the death of longtime Patriarch Ilia II.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday (11 May) morning, temporarily disrupting airport operations, officials said.
After years of limited engagement, relations between Syria and the European Union are drawing renewed diplomatic attention as both sides explore cooperation on migration, security and regional stability..
The man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House gala last month pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron opened France’s first-ever business summit in an English-speaking African nation on Monday (11 May), as Paris seeks to strengthen ties across the continent following a decline in influence in several former French colonies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attempt a political fightback on Monday (11 May) with a speech promising closer ties with the European Union after Labour suffered heavy local election losses and growing calls for his resignation.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that three Polish nationals and two Moldovan citizens had been released from detention in Belarus and Russia, highlighting what he described as growing diplomatic cooperation with Minsk.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment