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Sir Keir Starmer is under growing pressure to sack the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his dealings with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The prime minister has insisted he has “full confidence” in the Labour peer despite calls to sack his controversial pick to lead Britain’s diplomatic efforts in the US, after fresh details emerged of Lord Mandelson’s previous close friendship with the disgraced former banker.
They include claims that Epstein brokered a deal involving Lord Mandelson, the then business secretary, in relation to the sale of a taxpayer-owned business even after Epstein had been convicted of child sex offences. Lord Mandelson is also facing questions over a 50th birthday message to the paedophile, who died in 2019, in which he called him his “best pal”.
And in fresh revelations on Wednesday evening, it is reported that Lord Mandelson gave Epstein advice as he was facing charges over soliciting a minor. In leaked emails seen by The Sun, he wrote to Epstein in June 2008: “Your friends stay with you and love you.” And before the disgraced businessman was sentenced to 18 months in prison, Lord Mandelson urged him to “fight for early release”.
Angry Labour MPs have joined calls for Britain’s ambassador to the US to go. Breaking ranks, Labour deputy leadership hopeful Bell Ribeiro-Addy called for an investigation by Sir Keir’s ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, saying: “There will be a huge amount of concern, and if the outcome is that he should resign, he should.”
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Ian Byrne, who had the Labour whip restored in February after being suspended following a vote on the two-child benefit cap, told The Independent: “MPs get suspended by the party, like I did, for voting against putting children and disabled people into poverty, but calling the world’s most infamous paedophile and child-trafficker your ‘best pal’, amongst other comments, that’s OK! It stinks to high heaven.”
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Keir Starmer defends Peter Mandelson at PMQs on Wednesday(House of Commons/UK Parliament)
Richard Burgon, a left-wing critic of Sir Keir and a former Jeremy Corbyn ally, added: “Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed. He should be immediately sacked.”
Sources close to the White House and allies of Donald Trump warned the belief in Washington DC is now that “Mandelson is finished”.
One close Trump ally said: “The timing could not be worse with President Trump’s state visit next week. They cannot have the subject of Mandelson and Epstein dominating the press conference with Starmer.”
It was noted that, as first revealed by The Independent, Lord Mandelson’s credentials were almost rejected by the president because of his China links earlier this year, and he was only accepted because of a major diplomatic push.
Another Washington source praised Lord Mandelson for “doing a really good job” as ambassador, but said: “There were already knives out for Mandelson, and this will only empower his detractors.”
Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch ruthlessly used Prime Minister’s Questions to challenge Sir Keir over his judgement, just days after his former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner was forced to quit over her tax affairs. The Tory leader claimed that Lord Mandelson is “mired in scandal” and should step down. But Sir Keir gave his full backing to the beleaguered ambassador, saying: “I have confidence in him – he is doing an important job.”
As damaging pictures emerged of Lord Mandelson with Epstein, The Telegraph also reported that Epstein advised Lord Mandelson and senior JPMorgan executive Jes Staley on the bank’s purchase of Sempra Commodities, a joint venture between the publicly owned Royal Bank of Scotland and Sempra Energy, only months after Epstein was released from prison. The Independent has asked Lord Mandelson for comment. Mr Staley has since been banned from the City for misleading the Financial Conduct Authority over his relationship with Epstein.
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The prime minister says he has ‘confidence’ in Mandelson(PA Wire)
Earlier, Britain’s ambassador to Washington said he was “very embarrassed” to read a birthday message to the late paedophile in which he had described him as his “best pal”.
The message, part of a 50th birthday book compiled for Epstein by Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently in jail for sex trafficking, also saw Lord Mandelson express “love” for the financier and joke about entertaining his “interesting” friends.
Lord Mandelson told The Sun the messages were “very embarrassing,” adding: “I regret, very, very deeply indeed, carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done. It was a matter of years after I initially met him, and I regret very much that I fell for his lies.”
In further revelations on Wednesday night, Lord Mandelson reportedly wrote to Epstein about his criminal trial: “I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened. I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can.
“Everything can be turned into an opportunity and you will come through it and be stronger for it.”
A separate email reportedly showed Lord Mandelson offering strategic advice, quoting ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu. He wrote: “Reminder. You are fighting back so you need strategy, strategy, strategy. Remember The Art of War.”
When The Sun approached Lord Mandelson for comment, he did not deny the messages had been sent but instead reiterated his apology over his links with Epstein.
He told Harry Cole: “During all the time I was an associate of his [Epstein], I never saw any wrongdoing, I never saw any evidence of criminal activity. I never saw or was offered introductions to women in the way he did for others. Perhaps it is because I am a gay man.”
He said: “I feel profoundly upset. I regret being taken in him by him as many others did.”
The episode has once again called into question Sir Keir’s judgement in relation to his key appointments.
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Kemi Badenoch challenged Starmer over his judgement in hiring Mandelson(PA Wire)
PMQs opened with Tory MP Dr Luke Evans reminding the prime minister that he had lost a minister for homelessness, Rushanara Ali, for making people homeless; an anti-corruption minister, Tulip Siddiq, who is being investigated for corruption; and a housing secretary, Angela Rayner, because she failed to pay enough stamp duty on her second home.
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The latest Epstein revelations could not have come at a worse time, with President Trump set to hold his state visit to the UK next week, the high point in careful diplomatic manoeuvres by the Starmer government.
The prime minister has insisted that due process had been followed, and after PMQs his official spokesperson continued to point reporters to the “extensive vetting” of Lord Mandelson as well as his previous comments on his association with the paedophile financier.