UK Foreign Office Vetting Controversy Over Lord Mandelson's US Ambassador Appointment
The UK Foreign Office is facing scrutiny following revelations about the vetting process for Lord Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States.Sir Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office chief, defended the vetting despite security concerns and was subsequently sacked.Lord Mandelson was appointed UK ambassador to the US in December 2024 and underwent an in-depth vetting process to obtain the necessary security clearance.However, officials had raised concerns, and vetting experts recommended against granting clearance.The controversy intensified after Lord Mandelson was dismissed from the ambassador role in September 2025, following revelations about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 21 Apr 2026 18:32 LONDON
Sacked UK Civil Servant to Testify on Mandelson Vetting Controversy
Sir Olly Robbins, the former permanent under secretary at the UK Foreign Office, is set to give evidence in Parliament following his dismissal last week.He was removed from his post after Prime Minister Keir Starmer discovered Robbins had not disclosed that Lord Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting for the ambassador role in Washington.Robbins had served as the lead civil servant at the Foreign Office since January 2025.He is expected to explain his decision not to inform the Prime Minister or other ministers about the vetting failure, citing his interpretation of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, which he... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 21 Apr 2026 06:31 LONDON
Senior UK Foreign Office official leaves post after Mandelson vetting controversy
The most senior official at the UK Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins, is leaving his post following a controversy over the security vetting of Lord Mandelson for the role of ambassador to the United States.Robbins effectively lost his position after the Foreign Office overruled the vetting agency's recommendation to fail Mandelson.Lord Mandelson was appointed as the UK's ambassador to the US in December 2024 before completing the required security vetting, which he ultimately failed.Despite this, the Foreign Office allowed him to assume the role in February 2025.Mandelson was dismissed from the ambassadorial post seven months later due to revelations about... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Apr 2026 23:03 LONDON
