"Olly Robbins, the top Foreign Office official sacked by Starmer, told MPs on Tuesday that No 10 had created an atmosphere of pressure that made it impossible to deny clearance for Mandelson and had taken a dismissive attitude to vetting."
"Emily Thornberry, the committee chair, asked whether it had been McSweeney, to which Robbins said it was mainly the prime minister's private office, which is staffed by civil servants."
"McSweeney quit his role in February over Mandelson's appointment, saying he took full responsibility for advising the prime minister to appoint Mandelson, who had been a close ally and political mentor."
"The Mandelson scandal dominated PMQs on Wednesday, with Starmer coming under fire from the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, and Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, over the issue."
Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to the prime minister, is set to appear before the foreign affairs select committee amid the ongoing Peter Mandelson vetting controversy. Allegations suggest that Downing Street pressured the civil service to approve Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington. This situation has raised significant concerns about the vetting process. Olly Robbins, a sacked Foreign Office official, indicated that the prime minister's office created a pressured environment regarding Mandelson's clearance. McSweeney resigned in February, taking responsibility for advising the prime minister on Mandelson's appointment.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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