“PCS believes that yesterday’s departure of the FCDO permanent under-secretary, Sir Olly Robbins, raises serious questions about other decisions taken under his leadership.”
From the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
FCDO trade unions have written to the department’s new interim permanent secretary requesting urgent discussions on the FCDO2030 restructure.
PCS believes that yesterday’s departure of the FCDO permanent under-secretary, Sir Olly Robbins – for a decision relating to the vetting of the previous ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson – raises serious questions about other decisions taken under his leadership.
This includes the ongoing FCDO2030 restructure. PCS has consistently opposed the restructure plans in their current format, which include cutting up to 25% of jobs. We believe the scale of the proposed cuts, combined with the absence of a clear workforce plan and lack of meaningful consultation with unions, leaves the department exposed and risks undermining its ability to respond to international crises.
Our ballot for industrial action, based on our demands for an immediate ‘pause’ to allow for meaningful consultation with unions and a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, closes on Monday (20 April).
We’ve previously raised concerns about a pattern of behaviour during Olly Robbins’ tenure, including allegations of bypassing established recruitment processes and misleading parliament, and criticised his comments suggesting that staff who fundamentally disagree with government policy, particularly on Gaza, should consider resigning. These remarks followed a letter signed by more than 300 employees raising concerns.
PCS and the other FCDO trade unions have today written to the new, interim PUS Nick Dyer to request an urgent meeting on FCDO2030.
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- This was originally published on the PCS website on 17 April 2026.
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