The former top Foreign Office civil servant who was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer over the Peter Mandelson scandal has launched a legal challenge.
Sir Olly Robbins was blamed by the prime minister for failing to tell him Lord Mandelson had not passed vetting to become Britain’s ambassador to the US.
In a statement on Monday, his union confirmed he had requested a judicial review of his dismissal as permanent under-secretary of the Foreign Office.
Sir Olly said: “I bring this action reluctantly. It would have been unnecessary if the prime minister had simply apologised for his mistake and made amends for the distress and cost it has caused me and my family.
“Instead, I now have to ask the courts to determine that the prime minister’s decisions were unlawful, unreasonable and to quash them.”
In his submission to the court, Sir Olly argues that there “was no fair procedure” involved in his dismissal, and that the reasons given for being sacked were “irrational”.
He also claimed that the prime minister “has no statutory authority to dismiss the head of the diplomatic service”.
The FDA union called on Sir Keir to admit sacking Sir Olly was a mistake, and claimed the firing was “based on a grievous misunderstanding of how the national security vetting (NSV) system worked and a rash response to a media story”.
“Rather than being under a duty to tell ministers about the process leading up to the vetting decision, Olly was under an obligation not to,” the union said.
“The process is independent of government ministers, who are only informed of the final outcome.”
They say this position was confirmed in a letter in September 2025 signed by the foreign secretary and using text drafted and approved by Downing Street.
Sir Olly was dismissed by the PM after it came to light that his department granted Mandelson security clearance to take up the role of US ambassador – despite security services recommending against the appointment.
Asked in the House of Commons whether he had sought an explanation from Sir Olly, Sir Keir told MPs: “I did ask him, and I did not accept his explanation. That is why I sacked him.”
But allies of Sir Olly say he was fired without even being asked to explain his handling of the saga, The Independent revealed in April.
Conservative shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Alex Burghart, said the case will “likely cost taxpayers a fortune”.
“The Mandelson scandal has been a humiliation for Labour from start to finish, and the cover-up still continues,” he said.
Last month, it emerged that the former top civil servant is in talks to work for Andy Burnham in a possible security-related role when he becomes prime minister.
Talks between Sir Olly and Mr Burnham’s team are understood to be at an early stage, but he has a long pedigree and is highly respected by many within government.
Sir Olly previously served as deputy national security adviser and later as the government’s chief Brexit negotiator, giving him the heavyweight background required for the role.
The next PM could also have to fill a vacancy soon, with the current national security adviser Jonathan Powell rumoured to be planning to leave the role.