Olly Robbins skewers Starmer

Sir Olly Robbins, the former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, told the Foreign Affairs Committee that Number 10 adopted a 'dismissive approach' to security concerns regarding Lord Mandelson.

Robbins claimed he was pressured to expedite the vetting process as quickly as possible despite warnings from security officials.

The testimony contradicts previous government assertions that the Prime Minister was kept in the dark about the vetting failure.

Opposition MPs are now calling for Starmer's resignation, alleging he misled Parliament about the appointment of the US ambassador.