It is obvious now, Keir Starmer, that you made a mistake. Reinstate Olly Robbins for the good of the UK | Simon McDonald

That is the inescapable conclusion from all we know. I’m fairly sure that had the PM initially heard his full account, he would not have sacked him Simon McDonald was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office from 2015 to 2020 The most difficult thing in life – any life – is to admit you are wrong. What’s true for someone in the privacy of their own home is massively more true for the prime minister. But last Thursday, Keir Starmer made a mistake. That afternoon, the Guardian reported that ...

By Simon McDonald