Arabic version: استقالة مسؤول رفيع في وزارة الخارجية بعد جدل فحص مانديليسون

Sir Olly Robbins was permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office and is set to leave his position following a controversy surrounding the security vetting of Lord Mandelson for the role of US ambassador. The Foreign Office’s decision to override the vetting agency’s recommendation to deny Mandelson the post has led to a significant loss of confidence in Robbins from both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary.

According to BBC News, the situation escalated after it was revealed that neither Sir Keir Starmer nor any minister were aware of Lord Mandelson’s failure in the vetting process until earlier this week. This lack of communication has raised questions about the decision-making process within the Foreign Office.

The controversy is further compounded by Mandelson’s previous dismissal from the ambassador role last year, which was linked to his connections with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The combination of these factors has created a challenging environment for Robbins, ultimately leading to his departure from the Foreign Office.