Labour chief faces a damning verdict after recent revelations about disgraced former ambassador
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was informed about Mandelson and Epstein (Picture: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer was issued a damning official warning about Peter Mandelson’s friendship with intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein earlier than making the ex-Labour politician Britain’s prime diplomat, authorities paperwork have revealed. The Prime Minister was warned a few “reputational danger” if he handed the peer the function of ambassador to the US – and was informed the ex-minister continued his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein lengthy after the financier was convicted of a kid intercourse offence.
It seems to contradict the Prime Minister’s declare that the disgraced peer “lied all through the method” and the extent of his friendship with Epstein “was not disclosed”. The primary tranche of the so-called Mandelson information additionally revealed that the previous ambassador demanded a payout of greater than £500,000 after being sacked, and ultimately acquired £75,000, which MPs at the moment are demanding he hand again. Alex Burghart, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, stated: “Keir Starmer was plainly conscious of the connection between Mandelson and the world’s most infamous paedophile when he appointed him as US ambassador.
“What’s worse, the Authorities gave him a payoff of £75,000 regardless of his resignation in shame. Nobody will be capable of belief the Prime Minister’s judgement once more.”
And the Authorities’s nationwide safety adviser, Jonathan Powell, warned that the appointment course of had been “uncommon” and “weirdly rushed”.
Paperwork had been printed on Wednesday after Conservatives used a parliamentary process to pressure the Authorities to launch information associated to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador in 2024, and his eventual sacking final 12 months.
In a “due diligence” memo despatched to the Prime Minister on December 11, 2024, Sir Keir was informed: “After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an under-age lady in 2008, their relationship continued throughout 2009-11.”
The memo continued: “Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s Home whereas he was in jail in June 2009.”
However the Prime Minister went forward and introduced Lord Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador to the White Home 9 days later.
Lord Mandelson, a former Labour MP and cupboard minister, was sacked on September 11 final 12 months following the publication of leaked emails that illustrated his ongoing friendship with Epstein.
In a single June 2008 electronic mail, the peer informed Epstein: “Your pals stick with you and love you.”
Sir Keir insisted final 12 months: “If I knew then what I do know now, he would by no means have been anyplace close to Authorities.” However Conservatives stated the paperwork confirmed that the Prime Minister knew concerning the relationship all alongside.
Mr Burghart warned there can be extra revelations to return as a result of solely a small a part of the paperwork have to this point been launched.
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Some papers can not presently be printed due to an ongoing police investigation. Lord Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace, having been accused of passing delicate info to Epstein throughout his time as enterprise secretary.
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, defended Sir Keir land informed MPs that the due diligence report “didn’t expose the depth and extent” of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein.
He insisted Sir Keir had requested for extra info. Mr Jones stated: “While this can be a doc that we are able to’t publish presently, the Prime Minister could be very clear that he regrets having believed the lies that Peter Mandelson put earlier than him.”
The papers additionally present Lord Mandelson’s chequered previous as a politician, together with two resignations from earlier Labour governments, was cited as one other danger within the report despatched to the Prime Minister.
As well as, Sir Keir was informed that appointing a politician moderately than a profession diplomat meant that “if something goes improper, you possibly can be extra uncovered as the person is extra linked to you personally”.
The paperwork reveal that Sir Keir stated “severe discomfort” amongst Labour MPs contributed to his choice to sack Lord Mandelson.
Nationwide safety adviser Jonathan Powell stated after the peer’s removing that he discovered the appointment course of “uncommon” and “weirdly rushed”, in accordance with the report of a phone name.
Philip Barton, the then-Overseas Workplace everlasting under-secretary, “additionally had reservations across the appointment”, the memo stated.
A Overseas Workplace memo confirming Lord Mandelson’s £75,000 payout stated: “If there’s any pushback, it could be value mentioning that he opened negotiations asking us to pay out his contract (over £500k).”
And Lord Mandelson informed Overseas Workplace colleagues in his farewell electronic mail on September 11, 2025, that he continued to “really feel totally terrible about my affiliation with Epstein 20 years in the past”, regardless of the actual fact he was later proved to have been in contact with paedophile financier as not too long ago as 2016.
The Prime Minister ought to have come to the Commons to handle his “catastrophic failure of judgement” in appointing Lord Peter Mandelson because the ambassador to Washington, the chief of the Liberal Democrats informed MPs.
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Sir Ed Davey stated: “For a detailed buddy of Epstein to have been made Britain’s ambassador to america is a shameful a part of this affair that’s the Prime Minister’s accountability.”
The Lib Dem chief additionally known as on the Authorities to launch paperwork regarding the previous prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was additionally mates with Jeffrey Epstein, “as shortly as doable”.
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