Olly Robbins Seeks Judicial Review Over April Sacking as Starmer Faces Fair-Process Challenge
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 13
Olly Robbins Seeks Judicial Review Over April Sacking as Starmer Faces Fair-Process Challenge
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 13
Summary
Sir Olly Robbins has launched legal action to overturn his April dismissal from the Foreign Office, seeking a judicial review of Sir Keir Starmer’s decision.
The FDA union says Robbins was fired with no fair process and on a “grievous misunderstanding” of vetting rules, arguing he was obliged not to disclose confidential steps behind Lord Mandelson’s security clearance.
The case also challenges Starmer’s authority to dismiss Robbins, who was head of the diplomatic service, after the prime minister said he rejected Robbins’s explanation for how clearance was granted.
The dispute stems from Mandelson’s 2025 appointment as US ambassador: he was cleared despite officials’ concerns, then sacked seven months later after further information emerged about his past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Robbins said he brought the case reluctantly and that it could have been avoided had Starmer apologized and made amends for the damage to him and his family.