Oliver Robbins, a former top British bureaucrat and official in the foreign ministry, has testified before a House committee regarding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the British ambassador to the United States.
Robbins stated that he felt political pressure to rush through the appointment despite security concerns. He claimed that the Foreign Secretary’s office was under constant pressure from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s private office to resolve the security clearance quickly.
According to Robbins, the primary focus was on getting Mandelson out to Washington quickly. The former official, who was sacked over the appointment, provided testimony that is likely to fuel further criticism of Prime Minister Starmer’s leadership.