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The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Blame game deepens over Mandelson vetting scandal - The Latest

The Foreign Office chief sacked over the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal has finally given his side of the story in an explosive appearance before MPs. Olly Robbins told the foreign affairs select committee that he faced ‘constant pressure’ to get Mandelson in post as US ambassador as soon as possible, and claimed Downing Street took a ‘dismissive’ attitude to vetting. It came a day after Keir Starmer accused Robbins of ‘obstructing the truth’ about the vetting process in a high-stakes

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

UK and EU close in on agricultural deal to reduce Brexit barriers

Lords told sales of Scottish shellfish among areas that may benefit – but agreement will not erase all paperwork Europe live – latest updates A new agriculture agreement with the EU would not wipe out all Brexit paperwork but may greatly increase sales of Scottish langoustines and oysters, the House of Lords has heard. The UK and EU are close to finalising a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to reduce Brexit trade barriers, and while it will have “modest” impact on the UK economy the

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Starmer still faces more questions than answers after Olly Robbins’s quietly damning defence | John Crace

Sacked civil servant told Commons committee there was pressure from No 10 to approve appointment of Mandelson Well, what would you do? You’re a top civil servant with more than 25 years of government service. You’ve worked for Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May. You went through Brexit hell as a lead negotiator. You were sacked by Boris Johnson and were then brought back by Keir Starmer. You land a plum job as permanent undersecretary in the Foreign Office and do your boss a

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

It’s a nightmare on Downing Street: Starmer has no one left to blame for this Mandelson horror show | Marina Hyde

Olly Robbins’s testimony will have been painful for the PM. The No 10 omnishambles was publicly laid bare – and Keir’s fresh out of scapegoats ‘How dare Olly Robbins not have made me look like a chaotic, unprincipled plonker?” is an interesting defence for a prime minister to go for. But we are where we are. Never mind “this is the future liberals want”: this is the past that Keir Starmer wants. What follows is the alternative branch of history the endlessly victimised PM apparently wishes we’d

PoliticsDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Robbins’ account raises questions over whether he was misled on Mandelson vetting

Sacked Foreign Office chief tells MPs he was briefed that UKSV considered Mandelson ‘a borderline case’ UK politics live – latest updates An account of Peter Mandelson’s vetting process given by the former top civil servant Sir Olly Robbins has raised new questions about whether he was misled about the findings of the agency responsible for vetting. Robbins, who was sacked from his role of permanent secretary at the Foreign Office last week after revelations in the Guardian, gave testimony abo

PoliticsImmigration
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Foreign Office was asked to find role for senior Starmer aide, says Olly Robbins

Ex-civil servant testifying about Peter Mandelson says there was a ‘creep’ of senior diplomatic roles going to political figures UK politics live – latest updates Downing Street asked the Foreign Office to find a senior diplomatic role for Keir Starmer’s then communications chief, Matthew Doyle, the department’s former lead civil servant revealed on Tuesday. Testifying to MPs at parliament’s foreign affairs select committee, Olly Robbins said he had had several conversations with No 10 about f

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Olly Robbins says he faced ‘constant pressure’ to get Mandelson in post

Sacked Foreign Office permanent secretary says he was under pressure from Downing Street over appointment of US ambassador UK politics live – latest updates The sacked senior civil servant Oliver Robbins has said he was subject to “constant pressure” when he arrived in the Foreign Office to get Peter Mandelson in post as soon as possible. He said the Cabinet Office urged the Foreign Office to allow Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US without the usual vetting process but t

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Ed Miliband says he and Lammy feared Mandelson appointment could ‘blow up’

Energy secretary says both he and the then foreign secretary were worried making Mandelson US envoy was risky UK politics live – latest updates Ed Miliband and David Lammy discussed concerns about the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington which they feared could “blow up”, the energy secretary has revealed. Miliband said he had spoken to Lammy, who was foreign secretary at the time Mandelson was given the Washington post, with both expressing reservations. Contin

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Sacked Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins to face MPs’ questions over Mandelson vetting – UK politics live

Robbins was forced out as Foreign Office permanent secretary over the Mandelson vetting revelations in the Guardian Donald Trump seems to be conducting his relationship with Keir Starmer chiefly by online trolling at the moment. He was at it again overnight, with a post on his Truth Social network saying that, when Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, it was a “really bad pick”. Good morning. At 9am Olly Robbins will give evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee ab

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Labour’s great green energy plan could be a legacy as vital as the NHS | Polly Toynbee

Ed Miliband has a rare chance to do for the climate what Nye Bevan did for health: create something future generations will be proud of It looks unlikely that Labour will emerge as the largest party at the next general election (though it’s by no means impossible). If just one term is Labour’s destiny, what legacy will it leave behind? There is already in the making one great success that can’t be reversed, the transition to homegrown clean energy. This is a true “taking back control” escape fro

PoliticsEnvironmentHealthcare
The Guardian Politics21 Apr 2026

Starmer addresses the Mandelson vetting saga – podcast

Jonathan Freedland on what Keir Starmer said – and didn’t say – to the House of Commons about the Mandelson vetting failure “I think the whole Mandelson story, in a way, is an example of how much the Trump presidency has sort of wobbled and shaken the Starmer premiership,” Jonathan Freedland tells Helen Pidd. “And may in the end be responsible for the decision which ultimately costs this prime minister his job.” On Monday, Keir Starmer addressed the Commons on revelations in the Guardian that Pe

Politics
The Guardian Politics20 Apr 2026

Judgment day for Starmer? – podcast

Keir Starmer has updated the House of Commons on what he knew, and when, in regard to Peter Mandelson’s vetting for the post of UK ambassador to the US. Was what the PM said enough to convince his party and the public that he should not resign? Continue reading...

Politics