Ted G
11.9K posts

Ted G
@DitchTed
You will own nothing, have nothing and be happy (Davos Keir)
















NEW Friends of sacked Foreign Office boss Olly Robbins are starting to hit back and say sacking baseless. I've been talking to ex National Cyber Security Centre boss Ciaran Martin - who is about to embark on a media round ** He says it is the job the FCDO - so it was ultimately Olly Robbins - to decide whether security clearance is granted or not. Usually the FCDO security department does it and most cases didn't reach his level, but the most senior ones (presumably Mandelson) do. ** It’s ENTIRELY up to them, working with information from his own department and UK Security Vetting. The FCDO / he does not “overturn” the decision of UKSV - he’s they only one that decides. ** He says that Robbins was +prohibited+ from sharing details of what goes into his vetting assessment. Vetting would not work if elements shared confidentially went public. He was on a duty not to relay the position of UKSV. That’s why ministers do on get told - he is under a duty not to pass on any details beyond a pass/fail recommendation. ** So Martin says: the idea that there was a “recommendation” that was the “overriden” is wrong. This is the characterisation of government. The only assessment made is that by Robbins, and he could not have passed on any additional details. ** Therefore he feels the sacking of Robbins has no basis and that Robbins is being treated badly. ** Robbins will go before the FCDO select committee, perhaps as early as next Tuesday Ciaran Martin will be on @skynews shortly

















