# Starmer vs Robbins: Why the Mandelson row  keeps getting worse

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-briefing-with-the-institute-for-government-97126/starmer-vs-robbins-why-the-mandelson-row-keeps-getting-worse
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-briefing-with-the-institute-for-government-97126/starmer-vs-robbins-why-the-mandelson-row-keeps-getting-worse.md
Podcast: [Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government](https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-briefing-with-the-institute-for-government-97126)
Published: 2026-04-23T08:51:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR3303923775.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR3303923775.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2549

## Resource

Seven days in, Westminster is still consumed by the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. The PM has had his say. Olly Robbins - the permanent secretary that Starmer dismissed - has also given his account. So where does this leave Keir Starmer? Foreign Office permanent secretary Peter Ricketts joins the podcast team to work out where a week of blame and counter-blame has left the government - and what it means for an already damaged relationship between civil servants and ministers. Plus: new IfG research on how civil servants should handle policy making in major crises. Hosted by Hannah White. With Alex Thomas, Cath Haddon, and Vimbai Dzimwasha. Produced by Milo Hynes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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## Transcript

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