Sir Olly Robbins, after being dismissed last week, has been the subject of intense criticism from the British government. The 51-year-old, who has been a significant figure in Whitehall for half his life, is praised by supporters for his deep commitment to public service. However, during a parliamentary session on Monday, Keir Starmer accused him of intentionally concealing information related to Peter Mandelson’s vetting process, describing it as inexcusable.
Sacked from his role at the Foreign Office just hours after the news broke, Sir Olly had been appointed by the Prime Minister in January. He defended his actions by stating that Mandelson’s vetting was not a definite requirement and revealed being pressured to find employment for one of Starmer’s aides.
Known for his involvement in Theresa May’s Brexit negotiations, the Oxford-educated civil servant faced criticism from various quarters, particularly from Eurosceptics who accused him of obstructing progress during talks with the EU. Taking over the contentious position midway through negotiations, he faced challenges as the deal he helped formulate was repeatedly rejected by Parliament.
Before gaining prominence in the Brexit discussions, Sir Olly served under every Prime Minister since Tony Blair. He climbed the ranks at the Treasury before becoming Tony Blair’s principal private secretary, a crucial role at 10 Downing Street.
Subsequently, following the 2010 general election, David Cameron appointed him as the deputy national security adviser, overseeing intelligence, security, and resilience matters. His responsibilities included managing the fallout from the Edward Snowden data leak, which contained sensitive information about the CIA and GCHQ.
Leaving the government in 2019 before Boris Johnson assumed office, Sir Olly worked at Goldman Sachs as a managing director before being knighted in Baroness May’s resignation honors. He returned to government in January 2025 when Keir Starmer appointed him head of the Foreign Office, a position he held for only three weeks before the controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US Ambassador unfolded.
In a passionate address to Parliament, the Prime Minister revealed that Sir Olly was dismissed for deliberately withholding information about the vetting process. Expressing his deep attachment to his job and the institution, Sir Olly expressed his sadness at the turn of events, emphasizing his pride in serving the government and his team.
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