UK top official to step down over ex-envoy's failed vetting: Reports

LONDON: A top UK foreign ministry official will step down, local media reported late on Thursday, as the government faces fresh pressure over its past appointment of an associate of Jeffrey Epstein as US ambassador.

The UK Foreign Office's Permanent Under-Secretary Olly Robbins will leave his role after losing the confidence of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, media including the Press Association (PA) news agency and BBC reported.

Calls by opposition politicians for the prime minister himself to resign also intensified on Thursday as the government confirmed that its former Washington envoy Peter Mandelson had been appointed to his role after failing a background security check.

Starmer has faced repeated questions about his judgment in selecting Mandelson, who was sacked last year only months into the post over his ties to the late convicted US sex offender Epstein.

Opposition right-wing Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch wrote on X that "Starmer has betrayed our national security. He should go".

The prime minister has accused Mandelson of lying about the extent of his ties to Epstein during the vetting process for his Washington posting.

Against recommendation

Following an investigation published by The Guardian newspaper, a government spokesperson confirmed that foreign ministry officials made the decision to allow Mandelson's appointment to proceed "against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting".

But the spokesperson said neither Starmer nor the foreign minister "was aware" of this "until earlier this week".

Starmer sacked Mandelson as ambassador after documents released by a US Congressional committee revealed new details about the depth of his ties to Epstein.

Police have opened an investigation into allegations of misconduct in office by Mandelson, who was arrested and bailed in February.

He has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing.

The force is investigating Mandelson over allegations he leaked sensitive documents to Epstein when he was a government minister, including during the 2008 financial crash.