Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for believing Lord Mandelson's lies and appointing him as the UK's ambassador to the US. The prime minister began a planned speech on funding to improve local communities by addressing the growing anger over how he had dealt with the issue. While he acknowledged it had been publicly known for some time that Lord Mandelson knew Epstein, he said: None of us knew the depths and the darkness of that relationship.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the PM's position was untenable, while the Liberal Democrats called for a confidence vote to see if Labour MPs supported him. The prime minister is facing calls from some of his own MPs to stand down. While the handful of backbenchers to do so publicly are frequent critics of the PM, many more have raised concerns privately.
Sir Keir's former political director Luke Sullivan stated that the PM is fighting for his premiership. He told the BBC's Newscast: I don't think you can understate how serious the situation and the peril is that the prime minister finds himself in.
Seeking to defuse the row in a speech earlier, Sir Keir said he regretted appointing Lord Mandelson and would not have done so if he had known what he knows now. Directly addressing Epstein's victims, he said: I am sorry, sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him and sorry that even now you're forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.
Sir Keir has promised to release files, which he says will prove Lord Mandelson lied about the extent of his friendship with Epstein when he was being vetted for the US ambassador role. The government was forced into a climbdown by Labour backbenchers after it had planned to withhold some sensitive material. After a Commons vote, the government will pass documents which could damage national security or diplomatic relations to Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), rather than withholding them. The ISC says the government should decide which documents are made public - and which are not.
At the time, Lord Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador in December 2024. It was public knowledge that he had maintained a friendship with Epstein after his conviction for soliciting sex from a minor. In 2023, the Financial Times reported emails suggesting he stayed at Epstein's Manhattan mansion in 2009, while the financier was in jail. The PM said Lord Mandelson was asked directly about the nature of his relationship with Epstein before he was appointed as ambassador, and that the information now available makes clear that the answers he gave were lies.
Challenged after his speech over whether he should stand down as PM, Sir Keir said he understood the anger and frustration amongst Labour MPs over Lord Mandelson. However, he added: I was elected on a mandate in 2024 to change the country for the better... that's what I intend to do.
Starmer's future as prime minister remains uncertain as pressures from party members mount, emphasizing the need for accountability in light of these recent revelations.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the PM's position was untenable, while the Liberal Democrats called for a confidence vote to see if Labour MPs supported him. The prime minister is facing calls from some of his own MPs to stand down. While the handful of backbenchers to do so publicly are frequent critics of the PM, many more have raised concerns privately.
Sir Keir's former political director Luke Sullivan stated that the PM is fighting for his premiership. He told the BBC's Newscast: I don't think you can understate how serious the situation and the peril is that the prime minister finds himself in.
Seeking to defuse the row in a speech earlier, Sir Keir said he regretted appointing Lord Mandelson and would not have done so if he had known what he knows now. Directly addressing Epstein's victims, he said: I am sorry, sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him and sorry that even now you're forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.
Sir Keir has promised to release files, which he says will prove Lord Mandelson lied about the extent of his friendship with Epstein when he was being vetted for the US ambassador role. The government was forced into a climbdown by Labour backbenchers after it had planned to withhold some sensitive material. After a Commons vote, the government will pass documents which could damage national security or diplomatic relations to Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), rather than withholding them. The ISC says the government should decide which documents are made public - and which are not.
At the time, Lord Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador in December 2024. It was public knowledge that he had maintained a friendship with Epstein after his conviction for soliciting sex from a minor. In 2023, the Financial Times reported emails suggesting he stayed at Epstein's Manhattan mansion in 2009, while the financier was in jail. The PM said Lord Mandelson was asked directly about the nature of his relationship with Epstein before he was appointed as ambassador, and that the information now available makes clear that the answers he gave were lies.
Challenged after his speech over whether he should stand down as PM, Sir Keir said he understood the anger and frustration amongst Labour MPs over Lord Mandelson. However, he added: I was elected on a mandate in 2024 to change the country for the better... that's what I intend to do.
Starmer's future as prime minister remains uncertain as pressures from party members mount, emphasizing the need for accountability in light of these recent revelations.
