Olly Robbins says No 10 created ‘atmosphere of pressure’ over Mandelson appointment

A failure to grant Peter Mandelson’s security clearance “would have damaged” relations with President Trump’s White House, Sir Olly Robbins has said.

The US’s approval of Mandelson’s position as ambassador – formally termed agrément –  came ahead of the clearance, and “was delivered, … technically, just, by one working day, by the Biden administration,” said Robbins. 

If, in the wake of this, Mandelson’s clearance had not been granted and his position revoked, “[Trump’s] incoming administration may well have commented on it publicly, and it would, yes, have caused quite an issue in the relationship,” he added.