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Robbins response to ‘cover-up’ question reveals debate over Mandelson vetting file
UK NewsPolitics•April 22, 2026 at 6:00 AMNational

Robbins response to ‘cover-up’ question reveals debate over Mandelson vetting file

By Paul Lewis, Pippa Crerar and Henry Dyer•The Guardian - UK News

Sacked civil servant acknowledges discussion over release of documents in key committee hearingUK politics live: latest news updatesOlly Robbins responded to a question about an alleged “cover-up” on Tuesday by confirming that government officials had considered withholding Peter Mandelson’s secretive vetting documents from parliament.Robbins, who was sacked by Keir Starmer as the Foreign Office’s top civil servant last week, appeared to confirm a report in the Guardian that senior officials were debating whether to withhold from parliament sensitive documents that revealed the vetting agency did not believe Mandelson should get clearance. Continue reading...

Sacked civil servant acknowledges discussion over release of documents in key committee hearing

Olly Robbins responded to a question about an alleged “cover-up” on Tuesday by confirming that government officials had considered withholding Peter Mandelson’s secretive vetting documents from parliament.

Robbins, who was sacked by Keir Starmer as the Foreign Office’s top civil servant last week, appeared to confirm a report in the Guardian that senior officials were debating whether to withhold from parliament sensitive documents that revealed the vetting agency did not believe Mandelson should get clearance.

Continue reading...