Top civil servant ousted after British Foreign Office overruled Peter Mandelson vetting

The British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have lost confidence in Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Olly Robbins over the issue and he will be leaving the job

Peter Mandelson outside his London home following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office in March (Lucy North/PA)

Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure, and a top civil servant is to leave their post after it emerged the British foreign office overruled a security vetting process to clear Peter Mandelson to become UK ambassador to the US.

The British prime minister and British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper have lost confidence in foreign office permanent under-secretary Olly Robbins over the issue and he will be leaving the job, the Press Association understands.