Peter Mandelson scandal LIVE: Sacked official set for grilling on crucial day for Starmer

NewsPoliticsPoliticsLIVEUpdated 2 mins agoPeter Mandelson scandal LIVE: Sacked official set for grilling on crucial day for StarmerSir Olly Robbins, who Keir Starmer sacked as the department’s permanent secretary last week, will be given the chance to present his side of the story to the Foreign Affairs CommitteeSir Olly Robbins will be grilled over the Peter Mandelson scandal on Tuesday(Image: James Manning/PA Wire)CommentsNewsSophie Huskisson Political Correspondent and Alexander Brown Assistant Political EditorThe former head of the Foreign Office who was sacked last week will be grilled by MPs today on the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal.Sir Olly Robbins, who Keir Starmer sacked as the department’s permanent secretary last week, will be given the chance to present his side of the story to the Foreign Affairs Committee in what could be a moment of political danger for the Prime Minister. MPs will question him from 9am.A political storm has erupted between No10 and the Foreign Office after it emerged Peter Mandelson failed security vetting but that no ministers - including Mr Starmer - were told. In a two-hour Commons statement yesterday, the PM vented his fury at officials who kept him in the dark and said it "beggars belief" the Foreign Office withheld the explosive information.But Sir Olly is expected to tell his version of events today. A close friend of the mandarin yesterday said he was "heartbroken over the saga". New UpdatesToday07:48 BSTEd Miliband backs PM to stayThe Energy Secretary insisted the PM should stay despite the scandal.Asked if Keir Starmer should lose his job, Ed Miliband said: “I don’t think so, no. Obviously I don’t.“I think prime minister make errors. Prime ministers are fallible. Prime ministers are human. ”CommentsAlexander BrownToday07:34 BSTEd Miliband says Peter Mandelson 'should never have been appointed'Ed Miliband tells Sky News he steered “well clear” of Lord Mandelson while he was Labour leader as h...