Minister repeatedly refuses to say if Keir Starmer was right to sack Olly Robbins

Minister repeatedly refuses to say if Keir Starmer was right to sack Olly RobbinsKeir Starmer had sacked Sir Olly last week after it emerged a recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) to deny Lord Mandelson high-level clearance had been overruledCommentsNewsAlexander Brown Assistant Political Editor08:46, 22 Apr 2026Updated 08:51, 22 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesSir Olly Robbins was sacked by the PM(Image: PRU/AFP via Getty Images)A senior Cabinet minister has refused to say the sacking of Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins was “fair” as pressure grows on Keir Starmer.‌Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden insisted he supported the Prime Minister, but repeatedly failed to answer whether he thought the decision was "fair".‌The PM sacked Sir Olly last week after it emerged a recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) to deny Lord Mandelson high-level clearance had been overruled.‌The ex-top official came out fighting on Tuesday after the Mr Starmer accused the Foreign Office of keeping him in the dark over questions on the shamed peer's security clearance.READ MORE: Angela Rayner outlines the 'bold action' needed from Keir Starmer over Iran war falloutREAD MORE: Keir Starmer's Mandelson nightmare deepens as sacked Olly Robbins blasts No10 pressureView 2 ImagesThe DWP has fully accepted four out of five recommendations(Image: GETTY)‌In bombshell evidence to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Sir Olly said there was an atmosphere of "get this done" when he took up his post in January 2025, as the former Labour grandee had already been announced as the PM's pick to be US ambassador in December 2024.Now Mr McFadden has repeatedly declined to say he believed Mr Starmer’s sacking of top Foreign Office official Sir Olly was fair. Asked on Times Radio if the sacking felt fair, Mr McFadden said he thought “very highly” of Sir Olly but “I think if the Prime Minister’s made the judgment that he’s not got confi...