Dr Sam Rushworth

Dr Sam Rushworth

Labour — Bishop Auckland

Speaking in the House of Commons on 28 April 2026

Debate

Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges

Contribution

We have seen no evidence and, indeed, Sir Olly Robbins made it quite clear that he did not feel pressure to change his mind, that pressure was exerted on him with regard to the decision that he made. There was pressure exerted to make a decision. That is just part and parcel of the normal running of government, particularly when working to a timeline. Let me quote him: “I walked into a situation” where there was a “strong expectation—you will have seen the papers, released…under the Humble Address—coming from No. 10, that he needed to be in post and in America as quickly as humanly possible, the very first formal communication…to my predecessor from the No. 10 private office being that they wanted all this done at pace and Mandelson in post before inauguration.” That does not imply that there was some pressure to appoint him against the evidence that came forward.

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