A high-ranking government official has declined to comment on the dismissal of Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins as questions mount around Keir Starmer.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, expressed support for the Prime Minister but evaded confirming whether he deemed the decision to be just.
The Prime Minister removed Sir Olly from his position following revelations that a recommendation from UK Security Vetting to deny Lord Mandelson high-level clearance was overridden.
Sir Olly defended himself after Starmer accused the Foreign Office of withholding information regarding the security clearance of the disgraced peer.
During testimony to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Sir Olly described a rush to finalize matters when he assumed his role in January 2025, as Mandelson had already been announced as the PM’s choice for US ambassador in December 2024.
Pat McFadden has repeatedly sidestepped confirming the fairness of Starmer’s dismissal of Sir Olly. He maintained respect for Sir Olly but deferred to the Prime Minister’s judgment on the matter.
Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA union representing senior civil servants, criticized the dismissal, highlighting its negative impact on trust between ministers and civil servants in the government.
Meanwhile, Emily Thornberry criticized Starmer’s handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal, suggesting he had regressed in his leadership. Thornberry acknowledged positive changes in the Prime Minister’s team but expressed concern over recent missteps.
She noted improvements in decision-making and atmosphere at Number 10 but raised doubts about Starmer’s recent performance, hinting at uncertainties about the future direction of his leadership.