Controversy Over Sir Olly Robbins’ Potential Return to Senior Security Role

Andy Burnham’s team has discussed appointing Sir Olly Robbins, chief Brexit negotiator and former permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, to a senior security post. Senior Whitehall officials urged Burnham’s allies to drop the plan, citing Robbins’ role in the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal as a disqualifier.

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In April 2024, Sir Keir Starmer dismissed Robbins after it emerged he had reversed a UKSV recommendation denying Peter Mandelson clearance. Robbins acted without seeing the full vetting file and told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee he faced an “atmosphere of constant chasing” from No 10. Mandelson was removed as ambassador over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

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Key participants are Sir Olly Robbins, former chief Brexit negotiator considered for a senior security post; Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor leading the recruitment; Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister who dismissed Robbins; Peter Mandelson, former peer whose failed vetting sparked the controversy; Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee; and James Purnell, Burnham’s incoming chief of staff.

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Prime Minister Starmer said Robbins kept him “in the dark” on Mandelson’s vetting and asserted he would not have approved the appointment had he known of the failure. He also denied any No 10 pressure to push the posting. Robbins argues his dismissal denied him a chance to explain his actions and he is weighing legal action for reputational damage. Burnham’s office has not commented.

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Two senior Whitehall officials, speaking to The i Paper, argue Robbins’ reliance on second-hand briefings and lack of a written audit trail make him unsuitable for a sensitive security role. Dame Emily Thornberry called his committee evidence “a partial truth,” suggesting that securing Mandelson’s job may have been prioritized over security concerns.

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Robbins maintains he never saw the original vetting file and was denied full documentation after Mandelson’s dismissal. Whitehall sources counter that he routinely overrode vetting decisions without written justification. The committee’s review highlights this discrepancy without reaching a definitive conclusion.

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• “He [Robbins] claimed he never saw the vetting file and only relied on a second-hand briefing,” — senior Whitehall source, The i Paper

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• “You clearly told us the truth, but you only told us part of the truth,” — Dame Emily Thornberry, chair, Foreign Affairs Select Committee

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• “It’s a little bit like saying, ‘I had to run to work today,’ but not saying you were chased by a bear.” — Dame Emily Thornberry

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Robbins is evaluating legal options over alleged reputational harm, while Burnham’s administration faces ongoing scrutiny over any future security appointments. The Foreign Affairs Select Committee is expected to continue its inquiry into the Mandelson vetting process and the decision-making protocols that led to Robbins’ dismissal.

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