Ollie Robbins

And I was under strict instruction not to discuss that with the then Foreign Secretary, which was uncomfortable.

But the context here, Mr Morello, was I was still in my early months in the job, but I'd already concluded, as indeed I think I gave evidence to this committee about not long afterwards, that the Foreign Office needed quite serious reform.

I was in the process of talking to the top team about quite a profound restructuring involving

job losses and I found it very hard to think how I would explain to the office what the credentials of Matthew were to be in an important head of mission role when I was in danger of making very senior, very experienced diplomats leave the office.

Thank you.

Again, Mr. Carman, thank you for the generous way you asked the question, but I should be careful here.

The very short answer is I don't fully understand the reasons that I'm in the position I am in, but that is for a separate process for me to try to get to the bottom of.

I am... Oh, well.

I mean, as a human being, I'm desperately, desperately sad about it, Mr Carden.

I love that job.

I love that institution.

I was proud to serve this government and any government that might follow it.

I hope I was doing it to the best of my ability.

I was certainly...

doing it as hard as I possibly could.

I had wonderful colleagues who I miss deeply and the issues we were dealing with and my colleagues are still dealing with are of profound importance to the success of this government and the success of the country.

It's been the proudest part of my career to lead that institution because of their work, not because of mine.

and you say kind things about my distinguished career.

I just feel intensely proud of the people I've led and I wish them every success and wish I could still be with them.