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Sir Olly Robbins has been fired as the Mandelson vetting scandal rocks the UK Foreign Office.

The British government is currently nursing a deep wound in its diplomatic service. Sir Olly Robbins, the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office, has been relieved of his duties. This sudden departure is not a routine administrative change. It is a direct fallout from a controversial appointment that has haunted Downing Street for weeks.

At the heart of this crisis is Lord Peter Mandelson. The Labour grandee was appointed as the UK Ambassador to Washington. However, things went downhill fast. Emails surfaced showing Mandelson had exchanged supportive messages with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. These messages were sent even as Epstein faced justice. The revelation caused an uproar, leading to Mandelson’s dismissal.

The situation became more complicated when the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, revealed a shocking detail. She admitted that proper security vetting for Mandelson only started after he had already been given the job. It later emerged that Mandelson had actually failed his security clearance. Despite this, the Foreign Office reportedly overruled the negative vetting to push the appointment through.

This is where Sir Olly Robbins comes in. Following a damning report by The Guardian, Robbins was sacked just six hours later. The official reason given was a loss of confidence in his leadership. Prime Minister Keir Starmer claimed he was unaware that the vetting process had been overruled until it was too late.

However, many observers believe Robbins is being used as a convenient scapegoat. Records show that Mandelson was appointed in December 2024. Robbins did not even assume office until January 2025. Critics argue it is unfair to hold him solely responsible for a decision made before his tenure began.

There is also growing anger regarding the Prime Minister’s conduct. Reports suggest Starmer knew about the failed vetting on a Tuesday. Yet, he stood in Parliament on Wednesday to defend Mandelson. He only acted on Thursday after the news became public. This timeline has raised serious questions about whether the Prime Minister misled Parliament.

The drama does not end there. The manner of Robbins’ exit has upset the usually calm Foreign Office. Even those who disagreed with his policies feel he has been treated poorly. One insider noted that while Robbins was not popular with everyone, sacking him via a press release late at night was unjust.

As the dust settles, the spotlight remains on Number 10. The opposition and even some members of the ruling party are asking tough questions. Was Robbins truly the architect of this failure, or is he taking the fall for a political decision made at the top? The integrity of the British government’s vetting process now hangs in the balance.