Mandelson Row: Top Civil Servant Puts Starmer Under Pressure Over Sacked Envoy’s Epstein Links

Last Updated:April 21, 2026, 16:46 IST

Sacked official Olly Robbins told a parliamentary panel there was “pressure” to appoint Mandelson, amid scrutiny over vetting and Epstein ties.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing fresh pressure after the UK’s top civil servant at the Foreign Office on Tuesday indicated there was a “very strong expectation" from Downing Street to fast-track Peter Mandelson’s appointment, even as questions persist over his failed security vetting.

Appearing before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, former top civil servant Olly Robbins said there was an “atmosphere of pressure" and a push to have Mandelson “in post and in America as quickly as possible".

He also said he was concerned at points that the Prime Minister had been “given lines to deploy publicly" that had not been fully worked through within the Foreign Office.

Mandelson’s Ties To Epstein

The row centres on Mandelson’s appointment as UK envoy to Washington despite past controversies, including his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and previous resignations from Labour government posts. Starmer sacked Mandelson in September 2025, months after his appointment, following renewed scrutiny over those ties.

Starmer said officials had made a “deliberate decision" not to inform him that Mandelson had failed security vetting. Starmer has denied misleading parliament, but admitted he made a “wrong" judgment in appointing the 72-year-old.

Starmer Says He Was Wrong

“At the heart of this, there is also a judgment I made that was wrong. I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson," Starmer told MPs, as the controversy deepened.

Two lawmakers were removed from the Commons after accusing Starmer of lying and refusing to withdraw their remarks.

Starmer last week sacked Robbins and ordered a review of the vetting process. However, former officials have accused him of scapegoating Robbins, who is set to give further evidence to the parliamentary watchdog.

Robbins confirmed he had been briefed on the findings of the UK Security Vetting (UKSV) report but did not read them himself. He told MPs the case was considered “borderline", with UKSV “leaning towards" recommending that clearance be denied, but the Foreign Office ultimately decided the risks could be “managed or mitigated". He added that those risks did not relate to Mandelson’s association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Calls Grow For Starmer To Step Down

Opposition leaders have intensified calls for Starmer to resign, accusing him of misleading parliament and mishandling the vetting process. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said there were “serious questions" about what the prime minister knew and when.

“We still do not know exactly why Peter Mandelson failed that vetting," she told parliament.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Starmer had made “a catastrophic error of judgment" and should take responsibility.

Robbins told the committee he was “deeply concerned" about the leak of vetting details, warning that trust in the system could be permanently damaged. “That trust, once gone, cannot be returned," he said.

Meanwhile, UK police are investigating allegations of misconduct in public offices against Mandelson dating back more than a decade. He was arrested and released in February and has not been charged, denying any wrongdoing.

News world Mandelson Row: Top Civil Servant Puts Starmer Under Pressure Over Sacked Envoy’s Epstein Links

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