The former head of the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins, claims he felt pressured by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office to fast-track Peter Mandelson's appointment as British ambassador to Washington, despite security concerns.
Robbins, who was fired by Starmer last week, told the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that there was an 'atmosphere of pressure' to get Mandelson in post as quickly as possible.
Starmer is facing calls to resign over the revelation that Mandelson was given the crucial diplomatic post despite failing security checks.
The prime minister has placed blame on Foreign Office officials, saying they failed to inform him about the security concerns and approved Mandelson's appointment despite them.
Starmer claims he only found out about the failed vetting last week and would have withdrawn the appointment if he'd known.
