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Olly Robbins refused to hand Mandelson vetting summary to Cabinet Office, says Cat Little
She said UK Security Vetting recommended against developed vetting, and the Foreign Office still approved Lord Mandelson’s clearance.
- On Thursday, Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Cat Little told the Foreign Affairs Committee she acted "swiftly and effectively" after discovering Lord Mandelson received security clearance despite vetting officials recommending against it.
- Little bypassed former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins to request vetting information directly, describing her decision as "very unusual," after he refused to share details about the controversial appointment.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insists "due process" was followed regarding Lord Mandelson's appointment, though Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of misleading the Commons, prompting calls for a Privileges Committee referral.
- While reports suggest a Cabinet split over the scandal, Home Office Minister Alex Norris dismissed these claims as "a load of guff," citing recent Government action on NHS waiting lists.
- Starmer's leadership faces further scrutiny as former chief of staff Morgan McSweerey prepares to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee next week, while Labour MPs weigh options following May's local elections.
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What Mandelson vetting row reveals about escalating tensions between ministers and civil servants
Nigel Harris/ShutterstockKeir Starmer’s decision to fire Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins has contributed to “one of the worst crises in relations” between ministers and civil servants in modern times. The words of former cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell, writing after Robbins was sacked for declining to inform Starmer that Peter Mandelson failed vetting for his ambassador role, are a stark warning for the prime minister. Such a crisis has been …
Civil service boss claims Olly Robbins 'refused' to hand over key Peter Mandelson vetting documents
Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Cat Little claims that Sir Olly Robbins, former Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Office, refused to hand over key documents for the vetting of Peter Mandelson
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources16
Leaning Left4Leaning Right3Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution42% Center
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources are Center
42% Center
L 33%
C 42%
R 25%
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