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Sacked civil servant to speak out in Mandelson vetting row

 

Sacked civil servant to speak out in Mandelson vetting row23 minutes agoChris Mason,Political editorandNick Eardley,Political correspondentGettyThe former lead civil servant at the Foreign Office, sacked by the prime minister and foreign secretary last week, will give his side of the story in Parliament this morning.Sir Olly Robbins, who had been the permanent under secretary at the Foreign Office since January 2025, was removed from his post last Thursday evening after the prime minister discovered he had not been told by Sir Olly that Lord Peter Mandelson had failed his vetting process to be the UK’s ambassador in Washington.Sir Olly is expected to defend his decision not to tell Sir Keir Starmer and is understood to be bruised and upset at both losing his job and the loud, repeated and personal criticisms of his conduct.A friend of Sir Olly told the BBC, in apparent contrast with how he feels he has been treated: “Olly doesn’t do personal. He “He is likely to set out to the Foreign Affairs Committeethe context in which his initial decision was taken – that Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador had already been publicly announced and his interpretation of the law, the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, 2010, was that he was not authorised to share the conclusions of the UK Security Vetting process.PA MediaThe prime minister’s allies maintain this morning, as Sir Keir set out in the House of Commons on Monday, that their interpretation of the law is very different and Sir Olly could and should have shared that information with ministers.Supporters of Sir Keir struggle to understand why Sir Olly, having initially decided against sharing the information, remained of that view after Lord Mandelson’s sacking and when questions returned about the process surrounding his appointment.The chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Dame Emily Thornberry, is furious with Sir Olly for failing to disclose what he knew to the committee when they asked specifically about Lord Mandelson’s vetting.A key question in advance of the committee’s questioning is whether Sir Olly acknowledges sharing what he knew with anyone else and, if so, who and what it was he chose to tell them and not tell them.The prime minister will hope the former senior civil servant’s testimony will strengthen their argument that there were repeated opportunities for him to be informed and these were not taken.After the committee’s session with Sir Olly, there will be another debate on the issue in the Commons, secured by the Conservatives.Reflecting last night on suggestions the entire British state was being brought to bear against Sir Olly, an ally said: “That’s exactly how it feels. Chris

 

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Officials deliberately withheld Mandelson vetting result from me, Starmer says

 

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Key points from Starmer’s Mandelson statement

 

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Watch: Starmer faces MPs as Mandelson row drags on

 

Minister minister askedMigration minister Mike Tapp is unable to answer one of the questions on the UK citizenship test.PoliticsUK must obey international law over Iran, says ThornberryThe conflict in the Middle East could continue “for some time”, the UK prime minister has warned.PoliticsWatch: How victory for the Green Party unfoldedLabour, which took the Greater Manchester seat with more than 50% of the vote in 2024, was pushed into third place.PoliticsWatch: ‘Working hard used to get you something’, says plumber Hannah Spencer in victory speechIn her acceptance speech, Hannah Spencer said she was “no different from every single person in this constituency”.PoliticsWatch: Peter Mandelson led away by police from Camden homeThe Metropolitan Police said a 72-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.PoliticsWatch: Lib Dems MPs heckle Farage as he presents ECHR billWatch: Lib Dem MPs take on Farage in parliamentPoliticsZack Polanski: ‘We will say it loud, migrants and refugees are welcome here’Green Party leader Zack Polanski has delivered his first conference speech as leader and criticised the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform party.PoliticsWatch: Key moments from Starmer’s Labour conference speechThe prime minister said Britain was at a “fork in the road” in his address to the party conference in Liverpool.PoliticsWatch: PM repeatedly asked if he will rule out VAT rise in BudgetBBC’s Laura Kuenssberg quizzed the prime minister on his government’s tax plans ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget in November.PoliticsPM confident in his leadership following speculationPoliticsSir Keir Starmer on “challenge” of tackling illegal migrationPoliticsFormer Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell dies aged 84Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell dies aged 84PoliticsAndy Burnham on MPs urging him to challenge StarmerBurnham said the Labour government needed a “proper plan for the country”, including one to beat Reform UK.Politics’Was it worth it?’ – BBC correspondents assess Trump’s state visitBBC correspondents assess Trump’s state visit to the UKPolitics’Completely different, yet genuinely get on’ – BBC correspondents on Starmer and TrumpThe BBC’s Political Editor Chris Mason and North America Editor Sarah Smith discuss what’s at stake for both sides during the trip.PoliticsWatch: Mandelson says he regrets falling for Epstein’s liesWatch: Mandelson says he regrets falling for Epstein’s liesPoliticsWatch: The dramatic day the government had… in under two minutesAngela Rayner has resigned, people have been sacked and a big reshuffle in government has taken place.PoliticsWatch: Key moments from Rayner’s political careerDeputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resigned after failing to pay enough tax on a flat in Hove.PoliticsWatch: PM refuses to say if he will sack Rayner if she broke rulesSir Keir Starmer said Angela Rayner has referred herself to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.Politics

 

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Chris Mason: PM facing awkward hours ahead as Mandelson questions remain

 

Chris Mason: PM facing awkward hours ahead as Mandelson questions remain1 hour agoChris MasonPolitical editorAFP via Getty ImagesI occasionally like to kid myself that after 20-plus years of reporting from Westminster, I can’t be entirely surprised any more.Then, along came the row of the last few days after The Guardian’s revelations about Lord Mandelson, his vetting and the removal of the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins.It all prompted a one-word question from many of us: how?How could so senior a civil servant be in possession of such apparently politically explosive information and not pass it on to the prime minister and others?And how could a prime minister, embarking on a high-profile and controversial appointment, be so insufficiently curious that he didn’t prise this information out of the government machine?Context is key here: in January of last year, Sir Olly had just arrived at the Foreign Office as its permanent under-secretary.Weeks before, his predecessor, Sir Philip Barton, had worked through the formal niceties of confirming Lord Mandelson’s appointment to Washington, such as writing to the King about it on the 18th of December.In other words, it was a done deal. Whitehall and the civil service were aware of Sir Keir’s wishes. We know that some vetting concerns had been raised with the Prime Minister. The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 states that the secretary of state is responsible for managing the diplomatic service, but does not cover national security screening. This is a reference for the foreign secretary, and it gives Sir Olly’s anticipated defense, that the law says he should not reveal information gathered during the vetting. But on Sunday night the government released a statement outlining its interpretation of the act, claiming The government even read the explanatory notes to the Act in order to support their position. I suspect the prime minister will also refer to the Civil Service Code. This states that civil servants cannot “deceive, or knowingly mislead Ministers, Parliament, or others The Conservatives hope that Monday afternoon’s debate will “hasten squeaky-bum time for Labour MPs” by suggesting that Sir Keir beheaded more people than Henry VIII. The mood in the Labour Party has changed over the past few weeks. It is no longer as fervently angry. Now the question is whether this fiasco will raise the temperature again. “Let’s face it, this is bad stuff,” said one to me. Another says, “It reignites all the things that made so many angry with him in the first place.” The timing of the elections, which are just a few days away, could not be worse. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that Sir Olly may take legal action to challenge his dismissal. It’s not surprising that he was blasted out of the cannon so spectacularly by the foreign secretary and prime minister over the appointment of an Ambassador who had been signed off even before Sir Olly arrived at the Foreign Office. The people who have worked with him describe him as “a by the book man”, who has a distinguished career in the public service, and is “diligent and careful about processes and acting correctly.” The tone and tenor will be as interesting as his testimony. The document sent to him on the same day says “you should submit a new STRAP application form for your new position, at least 3 months before you are due to start at Post”.

 

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Reform pledges to review all asylum claims for past five years if it wins power

 

Reform pledges to review all asylum claims for past five years if it wins power2 hours agoJennifer McKiernanPolitical reporterHome Office/ PA MediaReform UK has pledged an immediate review of all asylum claims from the last five years should the party win the next general election.Around 400,000 people would be liable for deportation under the plans, which would target anybody granted asylum, overstaying a visa, or from a country deemed safe by a Reform-led government.The current Labour government has announced major crackdowns on immigration, including disrupting human trafficking gangs, emptying asylum hotels and increasing the time before indefinite leave to remain is granted.Conservatives claimed Reform was copying their policies “but without the detail”, and Liberal Democrats called it an “impractical farce” of a policy.Reform, led by Nigel Farage, has previously announced it would bar anyone arriving on a small boat, and suggested this could mean 600,000 deportations over five years. Reform, led by Nigel Farage, has previously announced it would bar anyone arriving on a small boat and suggested this could mean 600,000. Yusuf said to BBC Breakfast on Monday: “I want this to be emphasized.” “We will not allow the British people to be exploited.” Yusuf explained how he thought building “modular detention capacity” for 22,500 people, would allow for that many to be sent home each month, just as it had been done in America, and said this would lead detentions to total “a quarter million” a year. He also said the party wants to “turn off” welfare for anyone arriving illegally. This would mean ending free accommodation, and an “endless cycle” of appeals. If it was easy, it would have already been done. What’s been missing is political willpower. Home Secretary Shabana Mahamood has taken “decisive actions” to reduce small boat crossings. “We have already stopped more than 42,000 illegal migrants from crossing the Channel since the General Election,” they added. “We have removed, or deported, nearly 60,000 people who had no right to be in the country. “Conservative Chris Philp accused Reform of copying badly his own proposals. “The Conservatives already proposed a detailed border plan to withdraw from the ECHR, and completely ban asylum requests by illegal immigrants,” he stated. “Instead, they would be deported within a week after arrival.” “He said that the Tories would deport around 150,000 immigrants a year who had no right to be here in the UK. He added: “Reform has slowly caught up with our ideas, but without the details that will ensure they work in practice. Will Forster, Liberal Democrat immigration and asylum spokesman, attacked Reform’s plans for “hostility” that he claimed would “do nothing to fix our broken asylum system”. He said that the Conservatives’ mess had left us with a huge backlog. “Reviewing the five years of asylum grants will only slow down the process further. His party has called for temporary centers to be established to clear the backlog of asylum applications within six months, so that “those who have a right to stay here can get on with their life and support themselves and those without a right can be quickly returned”. She added: “We must offer compassion and sanctuary and not insecurity, terror and intimidation. Reform plans to scrap indefinite stay for migrants. Reform promises agency to ensure illegal migration removals. Sign up for our Politics Essential Newsletter to read top political analyses, gain insight from all over the UK, and stay up-to-date on the big moments. It’ll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.UK immigrationDeportationShabana Mahmood

 

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