Sir Olly Robbins, the former Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has initiated legal proceedings against the government over his dismissal earlier this year. Sir Olly was removed from his position in April 2026, following revelations that Lord Mandelson had been granted security clearance to become the UK's Ambassador to the United States despite concerns raised by vetting officials.
Represented by the FDA, the union for senior civil servants, Sir Olly is seeking a judicial review of the decision to dismiss him. The union asserts that his sacking occurred without "even the semblance of a fair process" and risks undermining the integrity of the civil service. They also contend that the dismissal was based on a "grievous misunderstanding" of government vetting procedures, arguing that Sir Olly was under an obligation not to disclose details of the vetting process to ministers.
The controversy stems from Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK Ambassador to the US in December 2024. He formally took up the role in February 2025 after receiving security clearance. However, just seven months later, in September 2025, Lord Mandelson was removed from the post after additional information surfaced regarding his previous friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Olly's dismissal in April 2026 came after a media report highlighted that Lord Mandelson's security clearance had been approved despite red flags from UK Security Vetting (UKSV), the government's in-house vetting unit. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated he was "furious" he had not been informed at the time and later told Members of Parliament that he did not accept Sir Olly's explanation for why clearance was granted, leading to his sacking. Sir Olly, who was appointed to the Foreign Office role in early 2025 and previously served as the government's lead official during Brexit negotiations, has maintained that the government's vetting processes must remain "absolutely confidential" and that he was only given an oral briefing on Lord Mandelson's "borderline case" status.
In addition to alleging a lack of fair procedure, the FDA union plans to argue that Sir Keir Starmer lacked the legal authority to dismiss Sir Olly, who also held the role of head of the UK's diplomatic service. Sir Olly stated he was bringing legal action "reluctantly," suggesting it could have been avoided if the Prime Minister had "simply apologised for his mistake and made amends for the distress and cost it has caused me and my family." A government spokesperson declined to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.