Ian Collard

Ian Collard is poised to become the United Kingdom's next ambassador to Japan. He is currently newsworthy due to his potential involvement in an ongoing inquiry concerning the security clearance granted to Peter Mandelson for an ambassadorship to Washington. Evidence presented to MPs suggests that Corin Robertson, the Foreign Office's chief operating officer at the time of the decision in late January 2025, was involved in granting Mandelson clearance despite the advice of vetting officials. As Robertson is due to take up her new role as ambassador to Japan, it is possible that Collard, her successor in a key operational role or a related capacity, may be called to give evidence. This situation arises amidst parliamentary pressure regarding missing documents from a release of papers related to Mandelson's appointment, with some documents withheld due to potential prejudice to an investigation. Collard's relevance stems from his impending diplomatic role and the potential for his testimony to shed light on the vetting process for high-profile appointments.