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Ex-top official Sir Olly Robbins reaches out-of-court settlement with government over sacking
Overview
Sir Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant in the Foreign Office, has reached an out-of-court settlement with the government following his dismissal earlier this year. He was sacked by then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the controversial vetting process regarding Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. The FDA union, which supported Sir Olly's legal action and request for a judicial review, stated he had been made a scapegoat, though the financial details of the settlement remain confidential.
Key points
- Sir Olly Robbins reached an out-of-court settlement with the government after challenging his dismissal through a request for a judicial review.
- He was originally sacked as the top official in the Foreign Office in April following the controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson's security clearance for the US ambassador role.
- The FDA union, representing Sir Olly, argued that he was made a scapegoat to mask the misjudgement of the prime minister.
- The exact financial amount of the settlement has not been made public.
- Lord Mandelson was later dismissed from his post as US ambassador just seven months after taking up the role following revelations concerning his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.