The previous Brexit arbitrator Oliver Robbins has actually been assigned as the UK Foreign Office’s most elderly civil slave, replacing Sir Philip Barton.
Robbins, that got on the shortlist in 2015 yet stopped working to obtain the public service’s leading work, was thought to be David Lammy’s favoured prospect for the function of irreversible undersecretary.
Although Robbins left the public service in 2019, he has years of experience in worldwide events and nationwide safety, which will certainly aid him browse an intricate worldwide landscape, with the return of Donald Trump to the White House and disputes in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Confirming the visit, Lammy stated: “I have set out from day one that I want to rewire the FCDO to act as the international delivery arm of this government’s missions, as well as devising our broader international strategy. Olly Robbins is exactly the person to help me deliver this and I am delighted to welcome him into the FCDO.
“His extensive experience of economic and security issues, gained across a range of Whitehall departments, will stand us in good stead as we reorient the FCDO to focus on growth and migration, while continuing to double down on national security.”
A Whitehall expert stated: “Olly has a lot of experience – from Europe, to national security and economic security. He is one of the few people who will know how good the FCDO can be – and he will get it back to that.”
Barton introduced in November he would certainly be standing down after 5 years in the function, having actually offered 5 international assistants and looked after the political shift to Labour.
Barton had actually been highly criticised by MPs in 2022 for his handling of the disorderly withdrawal of UK team after the autumn of Kabul to the Taliban, and look after the merging of the Foreign Office with the International Development Department in 2020.
Robbins, that was lately made a companion at Hakluyt, a working as a consultant started by ex-MI6 knowledge policemans, had actually not formerly been connected to the work.
He was likewise believed to be the favored selection of Sue Gray, Starmer’s previous principal of team. However, some in No 10 were eager for somebody with much less Brexit- relevant luggage.
After the statement was validated, Robbins stated: “I’ve seen our extraordinary diplomatic and development capabilities first-hand from Washington DC to Mogadishu, Dublin to Sana’a and Abuja to New Delhi.
“After five years out of the civil service I return believing more strongly than ever in the value of those capabilities and the public service principles that underpin them, while convinced that maintaining the UK’s lead depends critically on understanding and co-opting the pace of change evident in the UK and around the world.”
Robbins signed up with the public service as a fast-streamer in 1996, benefiting ten years in the Treasury prior to relocating to No 10 as the primary exclusive assistant for Tony Blair and afterwards Gordon Brown.
In July 2010 he was assigned deputy nationwide safety advisor, and in 2013 was entailed with the federal government’s efforts to obstruct documents consisting of records dripped by the previous United States knowledge professional Edward Snowden.
In 2014, Robbins was assigned head of public service reform, prior to relocating to the Home Office to come to be the 2nd most elderly civil slave because division, with duty for boundaries and migration.
He was assigned the head of the European and Global Issues Secretariat in July 2016, recommending Theresa May on the EU and Britain’s leave from the block. His function in discussing a Brexit bargain brought about some Conservative MPs criticizing him for an anti-Brexit “establishment plot”
