- A former cabinet secretary has warned that the Prime Minister is facing one of the "worst crises in relations between ministers and mandarins of modern times".
- Gus O’Donnell stated that the dismissal of Sir Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office head, risks a "serious and sustained chilling effect" on serving civil servants.
- Sir Olly was sacked after it emerged he failed to inform Sir Keir Starmer that Lord Peter Mandelson had not passed vetting for his role as US ambassador.
- Mandarins are defined as high-ranking senior civil servants who assist ministers in shaping policy.
- Mr O’Donnell urged Sir Keir and the new cabinet secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, to make rebuilding the relationship with civil service heads a top priority.
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