Sacked official Olly Robbins hits back at Starmer's team over Mandelson vetting crisis

Downing Street has denied that it created an "atmosphere of pressure" with regard to vetting Peter Mandelson, rejecting claims by sacked Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins.

The former top official said on Tuesday that No 10 held a "dismissive approach" towards the vetting, and that the Foreign Office found itself under "constant chasing" from Downing Street officials.

He was speaking while giving evidence to MPs over his handling of the vetting process for Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.

Asked whether No 10 recognised that description, Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson responded: "No"

"I reject that characterisation," the spokesperson said, "I think there's clearly a difference between asking for updates on an appointment process and the idea of being dismissive about vetting.

"I would draw a distinction between the idea of pressure and being kept informed about the process and the progress of the appointment," they added.

They said that the prime minister viewed Sir Olly as a "man of integrity and professionalism" who had made an "error of judgement".

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