"How could so senior a civil servant be in possession of such apparently politically explosive information and not pass it on to the prime minister and others?"
"Sir Olly had just arrived at the Foreign Office as its permanent under-secretary. Weeks before, his predecessor had confirmed Lord Mandelson's appointment to Washington."
"The secretary of state has the power to manage the diplomatic service...but they do not cover national security vetting."
The recent controversy involves Lord Mandelson's vetting and the removal of Sir Olly Robbins from the Foreign Office. Questions arise about how a senior civil servant could hold politically sensitive information without informing the prime minister. Context reveals that Sir Olly had just started at the Foreign Office, and previous vetting issues had been raised. The argument suggests that the information was not passed on due to convention and timing. Sir Olly is expected to defend his actions by citing legal discretion regarding national security vetting.
Read at www.bbc.com
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