Foreign Office in Turmoil: Top Civil Servant Resigns

0:00On April 16, Big Shake Up at the Foreign Office, their top civil servant, Sir Ali Robbins, is stepping down after the Department overruled security experts to approve Lord Peter Mandelson as the next UK ambassador to the United States. This rare move bypassed standard vetting protocols, sparking major fallout. Security officials had initially blocked Mandelson's clearance for the highest level of checks, known as developed vetting. But foreign office leaders pushed back and granted it anyway, going against the advice. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary of Vett Cooper have now lost confidence in Robbins, according to sources. It's a direct hit to the department's leadership over this controversial decision. The Prime Minister himself wasn't looped in on the overruling until earlier this week, government officials confirmed. That revelation has only fueled attention at the top. As the dust settles, questions linger about vetting safeguards and who really calls the shots on key diplomatic posts, leaving the Foreign Office too. Regroup fast.