- A former Labour minister, Denis MacShane, condemned the "wholly unacceptable" dismissal of ex-Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins over the Mandelson vetting scandal.
- MacShane stated he had never witnessed such a significant "fallout" between a prime minister and senior civil servants, describing Sir Olly's public dismissal as career-destroying.
- Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, denied claims he bullied civil servants into appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
- McSweeney, who resigned earlier this year over his involvement, said he does not recognise allegations of "constant pressure" on the Foreign Office to approve vetting.
- Sir Olly Robbins testified that No 10 took a "dismissive" approach to vetting and wanted Lord Mandelson in Washington swiftly, while Sir Keir Starmer accused opponents of a politically motivated smear campaign.
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