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Starmer is facing his judgment day over Mandelson missteps

accusations he [sacked a senior civil servant](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/17/olly-robbins-peter-mandelson-vetting-what-did-he-do-why-and-who-knew) to save his premiership. It has also shone a spotlight again on what many feel is Starmer

Keir Starmer says it is unforgivable he was not told Mandelson failed vetting

sacked Olly Robbins](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/16/foreign-offices-top-civil-servant-olly-robbins-leaves-post-in-mandelson-vetting-row), the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, on Thursday night. The prime minister will appear before MPs on Monday to give a statement about what happened

Foreign secretary concerned ministers not told of Mandelson vetting fears sooner

Starmer is facing calls to resign from opposition parties and is due to answer questions on the scandal in Parliament on Monday. The Foreign Office's top civil servant Sir Olly Robbins, who was sacked

Senior official ousted over Mandelson security row to face MPs

Starmer faces next week, with the planned appearance coming a day after he is due to appear in the Commons to answer question about the row. Robbins's predecessor Lord Simon McDonald has defended

'Staggering' I was not told Mandelson failed vetting, says PM

Starmer has said it's "staggering" that he, as prime minister, was not told about Lord Peter Mandelson failing to pass initial security vetting checks. The prime minister is facing calls to resign over