Sir Olly Robbins, the former chief Brexit negotiator and ex-permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, is facing opposition from senior Whitehall officials over a potential return to government in a sensitive security role. Robbins has reportedly held preliminary discussions with Labour mayoral candidate Andy Burnham’s team about a senior security appointment, prompting concerns about his suitability given his involvement in a recent vetting controversy.

Robbins was dismissed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in April following the fallout from the failed vetting process of Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States. The scandal intensified after Mandelson was removed from the position due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Some Whitehall sources argue that Robbins’s handling of the process lacked transparency and rigor.

One senior official criticized Robbins for relying on second-hand briefings rather than reviewing the vetting file directly, pointing out the absence of written justifications or an audit trail explaining why Mandelson’s vetting concerns were overridden. “That does not make him suitable to the kind of sensitive role he is being considered for,” the source said. Another senior figure echoed this view, urging Burnham to reconsider any plans to appoint Robbins.

Robbins, however, disputes the circumstances surrounding his dismissal. During testimony before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, he described a “constant chasing” atmosphere from Number 10 Downing Street regarding Mandelson’s appointment and suggested it would have been “very difficult” to block the nomination once it had been publicly announced. He also indicated that he was denied full access to the vetting documents following Mandelson’s removal and is reportedly considering legal action over the impact on his reputation. Supporters argue that Robbins never had a chance to adequately explain his role before being sacked.

Sir Keir Starmer has attributed blame to Robbins, accusing him of deliberately keeping the party leadership uninformed about the failed security checks prior to the appointment. Starmer maintains that he would not have approved Mandelson’s posting had he been aware of the vetting issues and denies any pressure from Number 10 to proceed with the ambassadorial appointment.

Despite the controversy, Robbins retains significant respect within some government circles. He was previously considered a leading candidate to succeed Jonathan Powell as national security adviser, although Powell has since been confirmed to remain in his post. Burnham’s team has declined to comment on either the approach made to Robbins or the specific role under consideration. In the meantime, lobbying efforts by senior officials seeking to dissuade Burnham from appointing Robbins continue.