Former UK Foreign Ministry Official Claims Pressure from Prime Minister's Office Over Mandelson Appointment

Olly Robbins, the former top official at the UK's foreign ministry, testified to a parliamentary committee that he faced significant pressure from the prime minister's office to expedite the appointment of Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. This revelation emerges amid ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment, which has intensified scrutiny on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer has acknowledged error in selecting Mandelson and expressed regret, while attributing blame to foreign ministry officials for not informing him that a security vetting body had advised against the appointment. Robbins described encountering a pre-existing expectation for Mandelson to assume the role in America urgently. The situation continues to exert pressure on Starmer's administration as the row unfolds.