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Cabinet minister Pat McFadden repeatedly declined to say he believed Sir Keir Starmer’s sacking of high Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins was honest.

Asked on Times Radio if the sacking felt honest, Mr McFadden stated he thought “very highly” of Sir Olly however “I think if the Prime Minister’s made the judgment that he’s not got confidence in the head of the Foreign Office, the head of the foreign service, then it’s difficult to continue”.

Asked once more if it was honest, Mr McFadden stated: “Look, it’s the Prime Minister’s judgment.”

Asked the identical query once more, Mr McFadden stated: “As a Cabinet member, I support the Prime Minister’s decisions.

“He took the decision he couldn’t continue with Olly Robbins in post because he viewed the material that had been withheld from him, not shared with him, as really important in making this decision.”