Sir Olly Robbins, the former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, has disclosed that Downing Street initiated discussions about finding a head of mission role for Matthew Doyle, who served as Downing Street's director of communications under Prime Minister Keir Starmer. According to Robbins, he was instructed not to discuss the matter with the then-foreign secretary David Lammy, a directive he described as uncomfortable. The proposal came to light after Robbins was sacked from his role, following revelations that his department had granted security clearance to Lord Mandelson despite concerns, as reported by multiple media outlets.
Robbins said he felt uncomfortable about the proposal to make Doyle an ambassador, questioning how he could justify the appointment to senior diplomats. "I found it very hard to think how I would explain to the office what the credentials of Matthew were to be in an important head of mission role when I was in danger of making very senior, very experienced diplomats leave the office," he said in a press conference. Robbins also noted that Lord Mandelson was asked about the prospect of a diplomatic role in Washington for Doyle, further indicating the seriousness of the discussions. The former permanent secretary was eventually sacked after it emerged his department gave Mandelson security clearance despite concerns, a development that has fueled political controversy.
I was under strict instruction not to discuss that with the then foreign secretary, which was uncomfortable.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed alarm at the revelations, stating she was extremely concerned that the Foreign Office was told not to inform the foreign secretary about the Doyle proposal. "I am, of course, extremely concerned at any suggestion that the permanent secretary or permanent under-secretary of the Foreign Office would be told not to inform the foreign secretary," Cooper said in a public speech. She also confirmed that Doyle would not have been an appropriate choice for an ambassadorial role, given his suspension from the Labour Party over links to convicted paedophile Sean Morton. Doyle was suspended from the party after it emerged he had been involved with a group that supported Morton, a fact that has been widely reported by major media outlets.
Lord Doyle, who was granted a peerage after leaving Downing Street, has denied ever seeking an ambassador role or being aware of any lobbying on his behalf. In an official statement, he said: "I have never sought any head of mission, ambassador or any equivalent leadership-type posting. I was never aware of anyone speaking to the FCDO about such a role for me. My desire after leaving No 10 was to stay in UK politics." This directly contradicts Robbins' account, creating a he-said/he-said dispute between a former top civil servant and the former communications chief. If Doyle is telling the truth, it suggests No 10 acted without his knowledge or that Robbins misinterpreted the discussions. If Robbins is correct, it implies Doyle may be misleading the public.
I found it very hard to think how I would explain to the office what the credentials of Matthew were to be in an important head of mission role when I was in danger of making very senior, very experienced diplomats leave the office.
Pat McFadden, the Labour Party's national campaign coordinator, was asked seven times in a media interview whether he had asked No 10 about the Doyle job proposal, but he did not answer directly, according to multiple reports. McFadden's evasive responses have raised further questions about who in the government was aware of the discussions and whether they were sanctioned at the highest levels. The controversy has also drawn in Lord Mandelson, who was reportedly asked about a Washington role for Doyle, though Mandelson has not publicly commented on the matter.
Several key unknowns remain. It is unclear who exactly in No 10 initiated the discussions about finding an ambassador role for Doyle, and how serious the proposal was—whether it was a formal request or just an informal exploration. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's knowledge of the discussions has not been confirmed, nor has the reason why Robbins was instructed not to inform the then-foreign secretary David Lammy. The outcome of the discussions also remains unclear, with no evidence that any formal job offer was made or considered. The dispute between Robbins and Doyle underscores the tensions within the Labour government over appointments and transparency.
I felt quite uncomfortable about it.