Olly Robbins has just nuked the premiership of Sir Keir Starmer

[ProudAmberTurtle]

What are the implications of Olly Robbins’s testimony for Starmer?

There was so much in his testimony that was damaging but surely the worst was that:

• He was instructed by No. 10 to find an ambassador's job for Starmer's then director of communications, Matthew Doyle
• He was told not to tell the foreign secretary about this
• Robbins considered leaving his role because this request was so unusual and inappropriate
• Doyle was then suspended from the Labour Party due to his links with a convicted paedophile (not Epstein).

And on Mandelson, he said there was "constant pressure" for him to fast-track the appointment, there was no interest in the vetting from the PM, concerns about the vetting were dismissed by No. 10 and Mandelson had already been given IT access that should only have been granted after the vetting process.

What can Starmer do now? Say Robbins was lying?

The quote, reportedly, was “just f-ing approve it”, from McSweeney to OR’s predecessor, and No 10 had argued that no security vetting was needed at all.

He was very clear that the vetting outcome was not a fail. He repeated that point half a dozen times: the decision maker, in the case of FCDO appointments, is the FCDO and they approved the vetting. You might see it differently, but you can’t accuse OR of being unclear on his position.

Karen was due to leave Washington anyway, and had already extended her tour. Another extension, at the request of the President, wouldn’t have happened. They thought Mandelson could deal with Trump, which is why he was appointed (and the Foreign Office had no obvious successor, it would just have been one of the posh, white men that they do so well, like Christian Turner).

I don’t think Olly should have been sacked. But that said, I don’t think there are many at the Foreign Office who will mourn his departure, given the rate at which he is getting rid of the most experienced diplomats, and surrounding himself with his cronies, in a way that is more befitting of the Balkans than the UK.

Mandleson himself was the one who briefed his appointment early in the December before No 10 were ready to announce, pushing the timetable forward. A typical slimy move on his part. Morgan McS was the one pushing for him to get the job in the first place, as they were thick as thieves, and he was also likely the one pressuring the Foreign Office. KS I believe is generally (too) hands off and managerial to have done this himself. Paradoxically I do believe he is basically decent and despises all that Mandelson (and Trump for that matter) represent BUT he’s also ruthless and followed MM’s advice to a tee since he masterminded his win. He unfortunately sold his soul to the devil there and let himself down by appointing Mandelson. I’m sure his anger is sincere though really directed at himself as he knows this was a colossal mistake.

Conversely since MM’s departure from No 10 there have been signs that KS is finally starting to use his own judgement on things like pushing back against Trump (where MM would have wanted him to align with the Reform view). I hope this doesn’t topple him, not because I think he’s the greatest but because I prefer him to the alternatives of Reform, or the chaos and self indulgent navel gazing of a Labour leadership campaign. We need stability. KS is on his last chance in that regard.

IMHO Starmer will stay because he has been told to string it out by Labour's National Executive Council. It is they, the Unions who own the PM. It was the NEC who insisted that Andy Burnham stay in Manchester.
The NEC wants time to get a replacement that the Unions will support. Months I think.

I agree about a level headed politician. I’m finding the Westminster frothing deeply frustrating right now. The situation in the Gulf is desperately serious. We are teetering at the edge of a global economic catastrophe, the related fuel crisis is driving people into poverty and putting lives at risk in many countries and the conflict in the Gulf could easily snowball into something even worse. Right now I couldn’t give a shit about yet another Labour leadership battle. Party politics and internecine fighting within the Labour party can do one. Seriously, get a grip.

I completely disagree with this sentiment. For the good of the country, he should end this nonsense and go. Preferably via a general election. The Labour cronies are not fit for office. We need a competent government to see us through the next few years. A coalition would be better to remove some of the unnecessary political baggage and steady the nation sensibly.

I don’t trust the testimony of a person who was willing to do those things.

If he thought it was wrong, he should have quit.

Agree he was unimpressive.
So when there is pressure the civil service caves. Utterly pointless then. Sack those who can’t take the pressure. Tho’ doubt ‘Sir’ Olly could hold down a proper job outsudec the civil service with actual pressure on a daily basis

Id agree he was a level headed politician if he was serious about defending Britain and actually increased defence spending urgently like he's being urged to do rather than pay lip service to it. Given we have Russian warships sailing up the Channel and the navy can't stop them.

But he doesnt want to reduce welfare. And given the amount of debt we have it is a zero sum game. Welfare or defence. And defence is his most important responsibility.

He did pretty well at Goldman Sachs for five years by all accounts.

Don't be ridiculous. The guy is clearly extremely able and clever given his extensive experience in high pressure situations eg Brexit negotiations. He won't lack job offers.

Of course not. Agree with @PineNeedles

There is absolutely no way Labour is going to risk a general election. Starmer will hang on until after May elections I think. It'll probably be a relief to him, he's clearly out of his depth, and always was. I'd love to know what Mandelson has on him!

Of course people will disagree. But when the replies are insinuating you’re stupid or a Starmer lover for having an opinion, it gets a bit tedious to watch. The posts are all day every day about what a terrible job Labour do. The same posters are just looking for an echo chamber, not an exchange of views.

I agree with this.

I do not want him to go but I just wish he'd have some bloody humility. It's like a kid with chocolate all round their mouth saying "I didn't eat it!" over and over.

It's the stolid, unbelievable insistence that he behaved honourably. Because he must have, axiomatically, because he's an honourable man.

No, you're just the same as the rest.

Sometimes you just can't argue with reality though. Labour are doing a bad job which is why the polls are so bad. Cause and effect.

I’m not convinced that seeing posts and responses from the same names over and over equates to a widely held view.

I didn’t say it was an echo chamber, I said that’s what they’re looking for. If you aren’t interested in hearing alternative views, rather just all laughing and slapping each other on the back for making the same points on repeat, what’s the point.

You have an opinion, you are posting it. You said you ‘weren’t allowed’ you clearly are.

I know. Its painful. The slippery behaviour and refusal to answer a question or actually be accountable for anything. No good "taking responsibility " if nothing happens to you to show that other than words.

I want Labour or whichever person they appoint as PM to get better at government for the sake of the country. They've got years to go.

That’s a matter of opinion. Your reality is clearly different to mine. I don’t think overall the government is doing a bad job at all. The polls were completely wrong for the Caerphilly and Gorton and Denton by elections so it’s amusing to see such reverence for them three years out from a general election.

True.
Although by what metric do you think the government are doing a good job? Unemployment is on the rise again for a start and that will be in great part due to Labour's tax policies.

Unemployment’s rising?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd84pkkjgpo?app-referrer=deep-link

I do disagree. In my line of work, Labour have made changes which will really improve things. None of its even made a murmur in the media. Absolutely things aren’t perfect, but the idea it’s all terrible just isn’t accurate. And the level of vitriol and desperation for this Government to fail has been (in my opinion) insane. It’s been there since day 1, before they’d even had a chance to make any changes.

Im not sure those figures and how they have been calculated paint the rosy picture you were aiming for.....