Foreign Office boss sacked by Starmer submits legal challenge

The former Foreign Office chief sacked by Sir Keir Starmer over Lord Peter Mandelson’s security vetting has submitted a legal challenge over his dismissal.

Sir Olly Robbins is requesting a judicial review after he was removed as the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, the FDA Union representing him said in a statement.

His submission makes the case that Sir Keir has no statutory authority to dismiss him as the head of the diplomatic service, and that there was “no fair procedure” and “no process at all” in the dismissal.

It also says Sir Olly was given “irrational” reasons for being fired.

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.”