servant

A diplomatic row at the heart of government has erupted around Keir Starmer after it emerged that the Foreign Office overrode a security vetting recommendation to approve Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US. The prime minister and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have both lost confidence in Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Olly Robbins over the affair, and he is expected to leave the role, according to reports. Security officials had originally refused to grant Mr Mandelson clearance, before Foreign…