Articles tagged with: Olly Robbins
Former security chief ‘cannot comprehend’ basis for sacking Robbins
17 Apr Foreign Affairs
Former security chief ‘cannot comprehend’ basis for sacking Robbins
Ciaran Martin says firing FCDO perm sec does not square with how the vetting process works, and will have chilling effect on civil servants
Mandelson vetting debacle: No.10 ‘put civil servants in invidious position’
17 Apr Foreign Affairs
Mandelson vetting debacle: No.10 ‘put civil servants in invidious position’
Union says Downing Street “allowed the impression to circulate” that UKSV had not done its job properly
FCDO perm sec Olly Robbins to leave over Mandelson vetting revelations
17 Apr Foreign Affairs
FCDO perm sec Olly Robbins to leave over Mandelson vetting revelations
Starmer faces calls to resign after it emerges officials overruled UKSV recommendation not to appoint Labour Party grandee as ambassador to Washington
Mandelson transparency release reveals top officials’ reservations
12 Mar Foreign Affairs
Mandelson transparency release reveals top officials’ reservations
Sacked ambassador sought £547k severance payment over removal from Washington Embassy, papers show 
Cab sec tasked with ‘urgent review’ of Mandelson’s dealings with Epstein
03 Feb Foreign Affairs
Cab sec tasked with ‘urgent review’ of Mandelson’s dealings with Epstein
PM asks Chris Wormald to look again at former business secretary and US ambassador’s conduct in office
FCDO’s domestic staff to ‘bear brunt’ of job cuts, perm sec says
12 Dec 2025 Foreign Affairs
FCDO’s domestic staff to ‘bear brunt’ of job cuts, perm sec says
Olly Robbins rejects suggestion that 1,885 jobs are at risk in the department
Chris Wormald: Media speculation is price of public life
04 Nov 2025 HR
Chris Wormald: Media speculation is price of public life
“You never want to read stuff in the press,” cabinet secretary tells MPs
FCDO cuts jeopardise UK’s standing at United Nations, MPs warn
23 Sep 2025 Foreign Affairs
FCDO cuts jeopardise UK’s standing at United Nations, MPs warn
Report says spending plans “risk ceding further influence to China and Russia” and will “open the door” to adversaries
Mandelson not subject to security vetting before named as ambassador, FCDO says
17 Sep 2025 Security & Defence
Mandelson not subject to security vetting before named as ambassador, FCDO says
Foreign Office was not asked to contribute to pre-announcement due-diligence process, with vetting starting after Mandelson's appointment was made public
MPs summon FCDO perm sec for questioning over Mandelson appointment
16 Sep 2025 Foreign Affairs
MPs summon FCDO perm sec for questioning over Mandelson appointment
Cabinet Office also faces grilling about vetting process for sacked ambassador to the United States
FCDO perm sec: latest aid cuts ‘easier to handle’ than 2021 reductions
11 Jul 2025 Foreign Affairs
FCDO perm sec: latest aid cuts ‘easier to handle’ than 2021 reductions
Olly Robbins says less than £500k was spent on department’s aborted Glasgow move
Olly Robbins: FCDO planning up to 25% headcount cuts
09 Jul 2025 Foreign Affairs
Olly Robbins: FCDO planning up to 25% headcount cuts
Perm sec says department is aiming for 500 voluntary exits this year and has begun wider restructure by looking at DG and director-level cuts
Civil servants ‘can resign’ if they strongly oppose Gaza policy
10 Jun 2025 Foreign Affairs
Civil servants ‘can resign’ if they strongly oppose Gaza policy
FCDO perm sec tells hundreds of officials who raised concerns that “quitting is an honourable course”
Robbins returns to civil service as FCDO perm sec
08 Jan 2025 Foreign Affairs
Robbins returns to civil service as FCDO perm sec
Former chief Brexit negotiator takes on top Foreign Office role "with huge excitement" after five years in the private sector
Former Defra DG becomes third Heywood Foundation fellow
07 Oct 2024 HR
Former Defra DG becomes third Heywood Foundation fellow
Lucy Smith will explore long-term strategy planning during research posting created in memory of Jeremy Heywood
Simon Case 'to step down in January'
01 Jul 2024 HR
Simon Case 'to step down in January'
Reports suggest former DExEU perm sec Olly Robbins is among contenders to replace him
Robbins becomes first Heywood fellow before move to Goldman Sachs
10 Sep 2019 Brexit
Robbins becomes first Heywood fellow before move to Goldman Sachs

Appointment announced as former EU adviser recognised in Theresa May's honours list 
Sir Leigh Lewis: Olly Robbins deserves admiration, not abuse, for his Brexit work
19 Oct 2018 Brexit
Sir Leigh Lewis: Olly Robbins deserves admiration, not abuse, for his Brexit work

When the history of Brexit is written, it will be some of this country’s political leaders, not its civil service, that will be subject to the harshest scrutiny, says the former DWP perm sec
Civil service chief Sedwill slams Brexiteer 'sniping' at Olly Robbins
16 Oct 2018 Brexit
Civil service chief Sedwill slams Brexiteer 'sniping' at Olly Robbins

Sedwill said anonymous sniping was 'unacceptable' the week after HMRC chief Jon Thompson received death threats
50 DExEU staff move to Brexit unit headed by Olly Robbins after Davis resignation – report
18 Jul 2018 Brexit
50 DExEU staff move to Brexit unit headed by Olly Robbins after Davis resignation – report

Staff switch comes as government seeks to bolster negotiating teams following Chequers proposal
Heywood among senior figures to back Olly Robbins after briefings against civil service Brexit chief
30 Apr 2018 Brexit
Heywood among senior figures to back Olly Robbins after briefings against civil service Brexit chief

Unusual intervention from cabinet secretary comes as government chief whip and prime minister’s chief of staff also move to defend Robbins
David Davis 'wins internal battle' with Olly Robbins over Brexit negotiations
11 Apr 2018 Brexit
David Davis 'wins internal battle' with Olly Robbins over Brexit negotiations

Government set to target detailed trade arrangements with the European Union ahead of next March’s exit dates  
Britain and the EU 'agree Brexit divorce bill of up to £50bn after Oliver Robbins intervention’
29 Nov 2017 Brexit
Britain and the EU 'agree Brexit divorce bill of up to £50bn after Oliver Robbins intervention’

Deal reached after discussions undertaking by government’s top Brexit civil servant

 
Oliver Robbins's move to top Brexit role in Number 10 ‘raises more questions than answers for Whitehall’
19 Sep 2017 Brexit
Oliver Robbins's move to top Brexit role in Number 10 ‘raises more questions than answers for Whitehall’

Move of civil service’s chief Brexit negotiator to the Cabinet Office will require new structures to be established with “time at a premium”, says IfG.