Olly Robbins reaches settlement with government over dismissal

Sir Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has reached an out-of-court settlement with the government over his dismissal after the controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson’s security vetting for the role of US ambassador. The amount has not been disclosed. [1]

Robbins had sought a judicial review of the decision to dismiss him. The government said it would not comment further on HR matters, while acknowledging that he had had “a distinguished public service career over three decades”. [1]

Robbins was sacked in April after it emerged that Mandelson had been granted security clearance despite concerns from vetting officials. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs he had dismissed Robbins because he did not accept his explanation for why clearance was granted. [1]

Robbins has said he did not see the written assessment from UK Security Vetting. He told MPs he received an oral briefing that described Mandelson as a “borderline case” and said the Foreign Office might grant clearance with “appropriate risk management”. [1]

The FDA union, which represented Robbins in the legal action, said the settlement could end the judicial review proceedings. Its general secretary, Dave Penman, accused the government of making Robbins a “scapegoat” and urged it to clarify the issues raised about ministerial involvement in vetting. [1]

Mandelson was announced as ambassador in December 2024 and took up the post in February 2025, after receiving clearance. He was dismissed seven months later after further information emerged about his past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. [1]