Brits count the cost of saving Keir's skin: Latest Whitehall chief sacrificed over Mandelson vetting outrage could be in line for huge payoff... as allies 'warn he won't be fall guy'

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 12:13, 17 April 2026 | Updated: 12:15, 17 April 2026 Brits could be counting the cost of saving Keir Starmer's skin again after the head of the Foreign Office was ousted. The UK's top diplomat Olly Robbins was effectively sacked last night as the 'furious' PM claimed he was not told Peter Mandelson failed security vetting. The New Labour architect's appointment as US ambassador was pushed through regardless in February last year. However, despite Sir Keir saying he was 'unforgivably' kept in the dark, there is widespread scepticism at the idea nobody in No10 or any ministers knew about the vetting situation until this week.  The PM's close ally Darren Jones was sent out to make his case in broadcast studios this morning, but appeared to admit that processes had been followed.  That raises doubts over the grounds for forcing out Sir Olly, a highly experienced civil servant who is on a £240,000 a year salary. Sir Keir told the mandarin he had lost confidence in him following a phone call last night. Allies are said to have been making clear Sir Olly has no intention of being the 'fall guy' for ministers. The Foreign Affairs Committee has invited him to give evidence on Tuesday. The UK's top diplomat Olly Robbins was effectively sacked last night as the 'furious' PM claimed he was not told Peter Mandelson failed security vetting Top officials forced out by Sir Keir in the past have already received large severance packages Top officials forced out by Sir Keir in the past have already received large severance packages. They include Chris Wormald, whose exit package was reputed to be worth £260,000 when he was stepped down as Cabinet Secretary in February, barely a year after being installed in the post.  Mandelson himself received a £75,000 payoff after he was removed as US ambassador over his long-standing ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Sir Olly himself recommended that settlement. Sir Keir has been racking up a startling body count as his Government reels from the Mandelson scandal. His chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned in February saying he took 'full responsibility' for the appointment. Communications director Tim Allan also left that month insisting he wanted to 'allow a new No10 team to be built'. In his interviews this morning, Mr Jones argued that Sir Keir had been 'right' to tell Parliament that due process had been followed throughout Mandelson's appointment. He told BBC Breakfast: 'The Prime Minister was right when he told the House that due process had been followed, because it had, but the fact that that process did not require officials to tell the Foreign Secretary or the Prime Minster that they ignored the advice of security and vetting officials is totally unacceptable.' On ITV's Good Morning Britain programme Mr Jones said the Foreign Office had the 'right' to ignore vetting recommendations. 'As soon as I found out last night that the Foreign Office and a small number of other organisations have the right to ignore the recommendation… I immediately suspended those rights and ordered an urgent audit,' he said.  Giving evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee previously, Sir Olly suggested Sir Keir had driven the Mandelson appointment personally.  Asked if the Foreign Office would have preferred a different candidate, he said: 'By the time we are describing, it was clear that the Prime Minister wanted to make this appointment himself.  'Therefore, I understand, the FCDO was informed of his decision and acted on it, and, via the Foreign Secretary, sought and obtained the King's approval for the appointment.  They include Chris Wormald, whose exit package was reputed to be worth £260,000 when he was stepped down as Cabinet Secretary in February, barely a year after being installed in the post Mandelson himself received a £75,000 payoff after he was removed as US ambassador over his long-standing ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Sir Olly himself recommended that settlement The PM's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned in February saying he took 'full responsibility' for the appointment 'In this case, as Chris explained, the Prime Minister took advice and formed a view himself, and we then acted on that view.'  Nigel Farage has said Sir Olly Robbins is 'one of the most professional civil servants in this country' and 'there is no way' he would have decided to overrule security vetting procedures alone. The Reform UK leader told LBC: 'There is no way a man like that would unilaterally make a decision of this kind, and, equally, the Prime Minister cannot stand up and say that Mandelson passed security vetting and now claim later he wasn't told. 'That's not incompetence, even Keir Starmer is not that incompetent, it is outright, blatant dishonesty.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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