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Morgan McSweeney denies bullying civil servants to approve Peter Mandelson's ambassador appointment

Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has denied media claims that he bullied civil servants into approving Peter Mandelson's ambassador appointment ahead of his evidence hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee next week. The controversy escalated after former Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins was sacked for overturning a security vetting denial for Mandelson, with conflicting accounts from Starmer and senior civil servants regarding pressure applied during the appointment process.