Former top official Olly Robbins in legal action over sacking
Sir Olly has since defended his role in the process and said the government’s review processes should remain “absolutely confidential”.
He had previously told MPs that he had not seen documents from the UK Security Review (UKSV), the government’s in-house review body, which contained the vetting assessment of Lord Mandelson.
Instead, he said, he was given a verbal briefing, during which he was told that the investigative agency considered Mandelson to be a “borderline case” but that the State Department might want to allow it with “appropriate risk management.”
Announcing Sir Olly’s decision to take legal action, the FDA said in a statement that its decision to remove him from the State Department was based on a “serious misunderstanding” of the government’s review procedures.
“Olly was under an obligation not to do so, instead explaining to ministers the process leading up to the review decision,” he added. “There was no fair procedure nor was there any process in his removal.”
The union also said it would seek to argue that Sir Keir did not have the legal authority to sack Sir Olly, who is also head of the UK’s diplomatic service.
Sir Olly, who was appointed Foreign Secretary in early 2025, has held a variety of senior civil service roles and was previously the government’s chief official during Brexit negotiations with the EU.
In a statement, he said he was “reluctantly” taking legal action and that it would be unnecessary if the prime minister “simply apologizes for his mistake and compensates me for the distress and cost it has caused me and my family”.
