Former Foreign Office permanent secretary Sir Olly Robbins has held early exploratory discussions with Andy Burnham's team about a senior security-related appointment.
The talks come after Robbins was dismissed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in April 2026 over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal.
Insiders say Robbins could be appointed as national security adviser in a Downing Street operation led by Burnham, who recently won the Makerfield by-election and is expected to enter the Labour leadership contest.
The prospect of Robbins returning to government has alarmed senior Whitehall officials.
They are lobbying Burnham's allies directly to drop the appointment, citing Robbins' handling of Mandelson's vetting process.
Whitehall sources reported that Robbins overturned a recommendation from UK Security Vetting to deny clearance for Mandelson, who was later dismissed as US ambassador over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
“He [Robbins] claimed he never saw the vetting file and only relied on a second-hand briefing,” said one senior Whitehall source, as reported by The i Paper.
The official further criticized the lack of written documentation surrounding the decision to bypass security concerns.
“There was no written record as to why he overruled the vetting decision and no audit trail, and that this was often his modus operandi,” the source said.
“That does not make him suitable to the kind of sensitive role he is being considered for,” added the source.
Robbins Defends Actions, Starmer Stands Firm
Robbins defended his actions before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, explaining the immense political pressure he faced to finalize the ambassadorial appointment.
He described an “atmosphere of constant chasing” and noted that blocking Mandelson would have been “very difficult” after public announcements were made.
Robbins also joked about having “plenty of time on his hands” following his removal from the civil service.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer maintained that Robbins intentionally withheld crucial information about the failed security clearance.
He called the omission “frankly staggering” and confirmed he directly confronted Robbins before terminating his employment.
“I did ask him, and I did not accept his explanation,” Starmer told the House of Commons. “That is why I sacked him.”
Foreign Affairs Select Committee Chair Dame Emily Thornberry challenged Robbins' testimony, calling it “a partial truth.”
She said, “You clearly told us the truth, but you only told us part of the truth.”
Thornberry used an analogy: “It's a little bit like saying, 'I had to run to work today,' but not saying you were chased by a bear.”
She questioned whether political objectives had overridden national security protocols, suggesting “getting Peter Mandelson the job was a priority that overrode everything else and that security considerations were very much second order.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper declined to comment directly on the potential appointment while traveling in Poland.
She acknowledged Robbins' extensive background, saying, “I said at the time, Olly Robbins has a huge career in public service as a dedicated public servant.”
However, friends of the former diplomat disputed Starmer's account, stating that Robbins was denied an opportunity to explain and that “no question was asked.”
The Labour Party leadership contest is scheduled to conclude with the announcement of the new prime minister on July 17, 2026, provided no rival candidates challenge Burnham.
