Foreign Office was asked to find role for senior Starmer aide, says Olly Robbins
Ex-civil servant testifying about Peter Mandelson says there was a ‘creep’ of senior diplomatic roles going to political figures UK politics live – latest updates Downing Street asked the Foreign Office to find a senior diplomatic role for Keir Starmer’s then communications chief, Matthew Doyle, the department’s former lead civil servant revealed on Tuesday. Testifying to MPs at parliament’s foreign affairs select committee, Olly Robbins said he had had several conversations with No 10 about fin
Sacked civil servant says No 10 pushed Foreign Office to find diplomatic role for Matthew Doyle without informing foreign secretary
UK politics live – latest updates
Downing Street pushed the Foreign Office to find a diplomatic role for Keir Starmer’s communications chief over the head of the then foreign secretary, the former head of the department has revealed.
Testifying to MPs at parliament’s foreign affairs select committee on Tuesday, Olly Robbins said he had several conversations with No 10 about finding a role for Matthew Doyle, who was later suspended as a Labour peer after it emerged he had campaigned for a friend charged with possessing indecent images of children.
Coverage from 3 sources
- Foreign Office was asked to find role for senior Starmer aide, says Olly RobbinsGuardian - World · Kiran Stacey Policy editor · Apr 21, 2026, 9:40 AM
- No 10 asked Foreign Office to find job for senior Starmer aide, says Olly RobbinsGuardian - World · Kiran Stacey Policy editor · Apr 21, 2026, 9:40 AM
- Olly Robbins: I was asked to find job for Starmer aide and not tell David LammyGuardian - World · Kiran Stacey Policy editor · Apr 21, 2026, 3:02 PM
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