In The Room | Full reaction: Does Olly Robbins’ testimony signal the end for Starmer?

PoliticsOpinion
22 Apr 2026 • 10:05 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Westminster watchers have had their popcorn out over the last 24 hours.

On Monday, the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, was grilled for two hours by MPs. A day later, Sir Olly Robbins, ex-permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, meticulously responded to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The result: more doubts over Keir Starmer’s handling of Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.

On this week’s episode of In The Room, former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara and ex-No. 10 special advisor Cleo Watson give their analysis, discuss Olly Robbins’ hammer blow testimony, and explain how the appointment of Matthew Doyle could be the prime minister’s ultimate undoing.

New episodes of In The Room drop every Friday. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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