Committee publication · Correspondence · 17 April 2026
Letter to Sir Oliver Robbins KCMG CB, relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States, dated 17 April 2026
From: Foreign Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Summary
The Foreign Affairs Committee Chair writes to Sir Oliver Robbins requesting his attendance at a committee hearing on 21 April 2026 to give evidence on the vetting process for Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as Ambassador to the United States. The letter follows Guardian reports questioning statements Robbins made to the committee in September 2025 and November 2025 regarding the appointment process.
Key findings
- Guardian reports published 16 April 2026 have called into question answers Sir Oliver Robbins gave to the committee regarding Lord Mandelson's vetting process
- Robbins's previous statements to the committee date to 16 September 2025 (written) and 3 November 2025 (oral evidence alongside Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald)
- Committee is requesting Robbins attend hearing on 21 April 2026 to address discrepancies and correct the record
- Committee Chair Emily Thornberry frames the request as an opportunity for Robbins to clarify his earlier testimony
Tone
ProceduralTopics
diplomatic-appointmentsvetting-proceduresparliamentary-scrutinyus-relations
Key actors
Emily Thornberry MP, Sir Oliver Robbins KCMG CB, Lord Peter Mandelson, Sir Chris Wormald, The Guardian
Notable line
“… reports in The Guardian yesterday have called into question the answers you gave to the Committee”
Key Quotes
“… reports in The Guardian yesterday have called into question the answers you gave to the Committee when we enquired about Lord Mandelson's appointment process”
“Conscious that as a committed public servant you would not willingly mislead the House, your attendance at the Committee next week would allow the opportunity for you to correct the record”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗