Why the government's civil war with the civil service matters

This Is Why · Apr 21, 2026 · 17m

Sir Keir Starmer's relationship with the civil service has broken down following the sacking of Sir Olly Robbins.

The former top civil servant at the Foreign Office told parliament there was a "dismissive approach" to security vetting from No 10, but the prime minister maintains it was Robbins who made "an error of judgement".

So, what's at stake when the inner workings of government grind to a halt?

Lord Peter Ricketts, who is also a former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, joins Niall to discuss what happens when things go wrong and whether Starmer can repair relations with the…