Whitehall continues to throw Starmer under the bus as the Robbins saga continues

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | 21st April 2026 | Comment, Politics

Sir Olly Robbins talking with former No 10 Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell -Getty Images

As the blame game between Keir Starmer and Olly Robbins unfolds, Lucy Carrier-Pilkington argues this is just the latest in a pattern of governments pinning responsibility on civil servants.

Former head of the Foreign Office, Sir Philip Barton, told MPs today that the Cabinet Office suggested Peter Mandelson should be waved through security checks for his prestigious role as US ambassador. Sir Philip, who revealed that he was not consulted about Mandelson's appointment, also said that the Cabinet Office argued Mandelson was a 'fit and proper person' who did not require Developed Vetting. Furthermore, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces accusations from sacked senior civil servant Sir Olly Robbins of having a “dangerous misunderstanding” of the official vetting process. Robbins, who was given the boot by Starmer for “failing” to tell him that Peter Mandelson had not passed the vetting process during his appointment as US ambassador, has challenged the narrative placing blame on his shoulders. The former civil servant said: “I hope it’s clear from everything I’ve said so far that this is a dangerous misunderstanding of the necessity of confidentiality in the process. ...

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