A former high-ranking official from the Foreign Ministry revealed on Tuesday that he had been under continual pressure from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office to hasten the process of appointing his chosen candidate as the U.S. ambassador. This has intensified a dispute that poses a threat to the British leader.
The controversy over the responsibility for selecting Labour veteran Peter Mandelson as Britain’s top diplomat, despite his controversial past and connections to the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has heightened the scrutiny on Starmer. Critics are now calling for his resignation.
Starmer has admitted his mistake in appointing Mandelson and expressed remorse. However, he shifted blame to officials for not informing him that a security vetting body had advised against the appointment, claiming that this information would have led him to reconsider hiring the new ambassador.
Olly Robbins, who was dismissed recently due to Starmer and Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper losing confidence in him, defended himself on Tuesday. He emphasized the pressure he faced to expedite the process, suggesting that the appointment of Mandelson was treated as almost finalized.
Robbins testified before a parliamentary committee, stating, “I walked into a situation where there was already a strong expectation that he needed to be in post and in America as quickly as possible.” He described a scenario of persistent follow-ups and frequent communications from Starmer’s office.
In response to Robbins’s assertions, Starmer’s spokesperson denied any undue pressure, highlighting the importance of keeping Starmer informed about the appointment progress rather than pressuring him.
Robbins also disclosed that the vetting body had raised concerns about the appointment, leaning towards rejecting clearance—a message that Starmer claims was not relayed to his government.
These revelations are likely to increase the pressure on Starmer, who, despite securing Labour’s largest majority in modern history in the 2024 national election, is now facing renewed calls to step down following the long-standing scandal.
Although Labour lawmakers have not indicated an immediate move to force Starmer’s resignation, especially with impending losses expected in upcoming local elections, the renewed focus on Starmer’s office operations may not placate his critics.
Several Labour Party members raised concerns about Downing Street’s push for an ambassadorial role for Matthew Doyle, Starmer’s former senior communications director, who was ousted from the party due to his links to a convicted sex offender. The attempt to secure a job for Doyle was criticized as a damning revelation.
As the controversy unfolds, even senior ministers have distanced themselves subtly from Starmer over the Mandelson appointment. Energy Minister Ed Miliband expressed concerns about the potential fallout from the decision, indicating the volatile nature of the situation.