UK's Japan envoy could be grilled by MPs in Mandelson security inquiry

The UK’s next ambassador to Japan could be called to give evidence over the decision to award Peter Mandelson security clearance against the advice of vetting officials before he took up the role of US envoy.

- Henry Dyer Paul Lewis

Corin Robertson was chief operating officer at the Foreign Office (FCDO) when she was involved in the decision in January last year, according to evidence given to parliament.

Robertson, who is due to take up the post in Tokyo in August, is the only official among three top civil servants involved in the decision yet to be questioned by MPs.

A source on the foreign affairs select committee said it would consider this week whether to call on Robertson. She could be asked to give evidence verbally or in writing.

The committee is nearing the end of its investigation into Mandelson’s appointment, but it is expected to wait until the release of further documents about the process, under the so-called humble address system, before reaching any final conclusions.

The decision to grant Mandelson clearance was made by Olly Robbins, the FCDO’s most senior civil servant. Robbins was sacked by Keir Starmer after it was revealed he had done so despite the vetting agency recommending clearance be denied.

Starmer said Robbins’s failure to inform him was “unforgivable” and he was “furious” about what had happened. In evidence given last month, Robbins has insisted he was right not to divulge to ministers information from the vetting process.