Key Developments
- Starmer’s Admission: The Prime Minister confirmed in Parliament that he was aware of Mandelson’s links to Epstein before the appointment but claims he was “repeatedly lied to” about the relationship’s depth.
- Parliamentary Revolt: Senior Labour figures Meg Hillier and Angela Rayner brokered a crucial amendment forcing the release of confidential vetting documents, narrowly averting a government defeat.
- Criminal Investigation: The Metropolitan Police have launched a probe into allegations that Mandelson shared market-sensitive government data with Epstein in exchange for payments.
- Formal Resignations: Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords and the Labour Party, and has been removed from the Privy Council by King Charles III.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the most significant challenge to his leadership since taking office, as the “Mandelson Affair” threatens to fracture the Labour Party. On Wednesday, during a high-tension session of Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer admitted for the first time that he had been aware of Peter Mandelson’s ongoing friendship with notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him as the UK’s Ambassador to the United States in late 2024.
The Prime Minister’s admission has sparked a firestorm of criticism regarding his ethics and judgment. While Starmer insisted that Mandelson “betrayed the country” and provided a “litany of deceit” during the vetting process, opposition leaders and his own backbenchers are questioning why a figure with such well-documented, controversial ties was ever considered for a top diplomatic post.
Uproar in the House of Commons
The government was pushed to the brink of a humiliating defeat in Parliament this week. A rebellion led by influential Labour MPs, including Meg Hillier and former Deputy PM Angela Rayner, forced the government’s hand. They successfully passed an amendment requiring the Cabinet Office to release all confidential papers related to Mandelson’s appointment.
Initially, Downing Street attempted to block the release by citing national security, a move Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, labeled a “red herring” designed to protect the Prime Minister’s job security rather than the state. Under intense pressure, the government finally agreed to refer the documents to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).
The Epstein Files: Leaks and Payments
The scandal intensified following the release of a massive tranche of documents by the US Department of Justice. These files suggest that in 2009, while serving as Business Secretary, Mandelson allegedly forwarded sensitive internal memos to Epstein regarding a €500 billion EU bailout and the potential sale of UK government assets.
Furthermore, bank records indicate that Epstein transferred approximately $75,000 in three separate payments to accounts linked to Mandelson or his partner in the early 2000s. While Mandelson has claimed he has no recollection of these transfers, the Metropolitan Police are now investigating these claims as potential “misconduct in public office.”
The Fall of a Political Titan
In a desperate attempt to limit the damage to the Labour Party, Peter Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords on February 3, 2024. His departure followed the surfacing of a compromising photograph in international media showing him in a hotel room in his underwear alongside a woman in a bathrobe, a disclosure that has further tarnished his long political career.
In a rare move, Prime Minister Starmer confirmed that, with the formal consent of King Charles III, Mandelson has been stripped of his position on the Privy Council. The government is also fast-tracking legislation to permanently remove his “Lord” title, an act not seen since the First World War.
As more documents from the Epstein cache are expected to be made public in the coming days, Labour MPs have warned that Starmer could face a formal leadership challenge. The sense of betrayal is palpable, with many in the party claiming the Prime Minister’s judgment has been fatally compromised by his association with the “dark arts” of Mandelson’s era.
