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Sir Keir Starmer has stated that he would “never” have appointed Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the United States had he been fully aware of the extent of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In his first public remarks since dismissing Lord Mandelson, Sir Keir affirmed that the Labour peer underwent a thorough due diligence process prior to his appointment. However, he conceded, “Had I known then what I know now, I’d have never appointed him.”
Sir Keir publicly defended Lord Mandelson in the House of Commons on Wednesday, only to terminate his appointment the following day.
Opposition Members of Parliament will have an opportunity to further scrutinize the government’s actions following the Speaker’s decision to grant the Conservatives an emergency debate on the appointment on Tuesday.
Emails reported by Bloomberg revealed supportive messages sent by Lord Mandelson to Epstein in 2008, subsequent to Epstein’s guilty plea.
The disclosed emails included passages in which Lord Mandelson encouraged Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Reports also indicate that he told Epstein “I think the world of you” the day before the disgraced financier began his sentence in June 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Speaking to reporters, Sir Keir commented that the messages demonstrated Lord Mandelson “was not only questioning but wanting to challenge the conviction of Epstein at the time”.
Lord Mandelson’s emails “cut across the whole approach that I’ve taken on violence against women and girls for many years and this government’s”, he added.
The emails revealed that “the nature and extent of the relationship that Peter Mandelson had with Epstein was far different to what I had understood to be the position when I appointed him.”
Sir Keir further stated that he was “not at all” satisfied with Lord Mandelson’s responses to questions “put to him by government officials”.
The Prime Minister has faced scrutiny regarding his judgment in initially appointing Lord Mandelson, given that his friendship with Epstein was already a matter of public record.
Sir Keir maintained that he was unaware of the content of the emails when he defended the US ambassador during Prime Minister’s Questions but acknowledged that he knew Foreign Office officials had questioned Lord Mandelson about the emails.
This scandal, occurring shortly after Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister, has emboldened some Labour MPs to express their concerns regarding the Prime Minister’s leadership and the broader operations within Downing Street.
On Monday, Sir Keir faced another setback when one of his senior aides, Paul Ovenden, resigned following the leak of explicit messages about veteran MP Diane Abbott from eight years prior.
The upcoming parliamentary debate could potentially undermine Sir Keir’s efforts to move past the scandal ahead of US President Donald Trump’s state visit this week, as well as the Labour conference at the end of the month.
Labour MPs are voicing both public and private reservations regarding the Prime Minister’s leadership.
The Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, has formally requested that the government provide evidence detailing the clearance and appointment process of Lord Mandelson.
Labour backbencher Richard Burgon stated on Radio 4’s Today programme that Sir Keir would be “gone” should Labour perform poorly in the May elections in Scotland, Wales, and parts of England.
The Conservative Party has also demanded that the Prime Minister release documents pertaining to Mandelson’s appointment.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Tory MP Alex Burghart questioned the extent of Sir Keir’s knowledge of Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein prior to defending the former ambassador during Prime Minister’s Questions last Wednesday.
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Downing Street said the messages about the veteran MP were “appalling and unacceptable”.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson launches her Labour deputy leadership bid in Sunderland.
First Minister Eluned Morgan’s comments come after a turbulent week for the UK government.
MPs Al Carns and Dame Karen Bradley, and council leader George Finch say national flags should be a symbol of unity.
The fallout is continuing after Peter Mandelson’s sacking as UK ambassador to Washington over his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
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