Robbins says officials considered withholding Mandelson vetting files from parliament
Sacked civil servant acknowledges ‘debate’ about release of documents after question about alleged ‘cover-up’
Olly Robbins responded to a question about an alleged “cover-up” on Tuesday by confirming that government officials had considered withholding Peter Mandelson’s secretive vetting documents from parliament.
Robbins, who was sacked by Keir Starmer as the Foreign Office’s top civil servant last week, appeared to confirm a https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/16/officials-debate-withholding-mandelson-vetting-documents-from-parliament">report in the Guardian that senior officials were debating whether to withhold from parliament sensitive documents that revealed the vetting agency did not believe Mandelson should get clearance.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/22/robbins-says-officials-considered-withholding-mandelson-vetting-files-from-parliament">Continue reading...Starmer Faces Mandelson Vetting Scandal
- Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, to be questioned by MPs The Guardian —
- UK Starmer says unaware of security lapse in Mandelson security vetting France 24 —
- Mandelson scandal is like a persistent illness for Starmer Financial Times —
- 'Take responsibility and GO!' Starmer squirms over pushing No10 spin doctor for ambassador job at PMQs - but claims he has been vindicated over Mandelson vetting Daily Mail —
- Starmer says Robbins evidence ‘puts to bed’ claims that he misled MPs The Standard —