Starmer to face MPs for first time since Olly Robbins’ Mandelson evidence – UK politics live

Former cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill has called for Robbins to be reinstated at the Foreign Office after his evidence to MPsIn his interview with Sky News, while not saying he fully supported the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, Pat McFadden did say that he could “see the rationale” for it.Asked if he was worried when he heard about the appointment, he replied:No, because I could see the rationale for it … This was an unusual appointment, a political appointment, in fact they happen on occasion, not very often.But I could see the rationale for this appointment because you were dealing with a very new kind of US administration, trade was going to be at the heart of our relationship with this administration.I do know Olly Robbins. And as I said, I think very highly of him. I think if the prime minister has made the judgment that he’s not got confidence in the head of the Foreign Office, then it’s difficult to continue.That is not to say that Olly Robbins is not an extremely distinguished civil servant. I think what this really came down to was a disagreement on judgment. Continue reading...