British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has acknowledged that he was aware of his mentor, former ambassador to the United States Lord Mandelson’s connections to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but he maintains that he was misled regarding the depth of their relationship.
In a bid to save his political career, Starmer spoke out on Wednesday afternoon, attempting to deflect blame for his controversial decision to appoint Sir Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.
Starmer confessed that he knew about Mandelson’s ongoing association with Epstein, even after Epstein’s conviction for child sex offenses. This admission follows comments made by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who mentioned in Prime Minister’s Questions that journalists informed Starmer in 2024 about Mandelson visiting Epstein’s residence post-conviction.
The Prime Minister stated he was aware of the relationship but claimed he did not fully grasp its severity. Reports indicate that he said, “He lied to everyone about that for years. In September, new information emerged showing the relationship was very different from what we had been led to believe. When I learned the truth, I dismissed him.”
“Had I known then what I do now, he would never have been appointed,” he added.
Mandelson’s appointment has faced renewed scrutiny after the U.S. Department of Justice released extensive documents related to the Epstein scandal, which included communications between Epstein and British political figures.
According to these documents, in 2009, Mandelson allegedly utilized his previous role as business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government to give Epstein insider information that could impact financial markets, including advance notice of a significant bailout.
Further documents revealed that Mandelson received $75,000 from Epstein, and it seems Epstein also paid Mandelson’s husband £10,000 in the same year.
On Tuesday night, the Metropolitan Police announced the initiation of a criminal investigation into Mandelson for possible misconduct during his time in office, just after he resigned from the House of Lords.
A veteran Labor spin doctor, who has been a significant figure in every Labor government this century, has stepped down from the party, but this is unlikely to quell the growing scandal.
During a tense exchange in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch questioned whether Starmer still trusted his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who is reported to have been instrumental in the decision to appoint Mandelson as U.S. ambassador.
“We know there will be a cover-up because the Prime Minister and Morgan McSweeney are involved,” Badenoch asserted.
Starmer defended McSweeney, calling him an “indispensable part” of his team, though only time will reveal whether there will be discontent among his senior leadership seeking to protect Starmer’s position. The growing displeasure, even within the Labor Party, became evident after Starmer was compelled to reverse his attempts to limit the release of Mandelson’s documents for parliamentary examination, facing a backlash from his colleagues.
Even before this latest scandal, Starmer was perceived to be in a crisis, with approval ratings significantly dropping since he took office last year, alongside rumors of potential leadership challenges swirling in the media. It was previously speculated that the upcoming May elections would be a determining factor for his political future, but it remains unclear if Starmer can hold onto his position until then.
