Starmer ‘didn’t speak to Mandelson personally’ before making him US ambassador… despite being warned about Epstein ties
It has been claimed today that Keir Starmer did not speak to Mandelson in person before appointing him as US ambassador.
The Prime Minister is said to have left aides to question the New Labor architect about his long-standing links to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
This was despite warnings from senior officials and evidence that their friendship continued after the financier was jailed.
The allegations in the Times come after Sir Keir offered a vile mea culpa amid a struggle to contain the anger of Labor MPs.
During his visit to Belfast yesterday, Sir Keir admitted that ‘it was me who made the mistake’ and that it was he who ‘should be apologizing to the Epstein victims’.
The outrage was responded to by documents showing that a Government review highlighted Mandelson’s ‘close’ ties to Epstein before he was made the UK’s man in Washington in December 2024.
It has been claimed that Keir Starmer (pictured in Cork today) did not speak to Mandelson personally before appointing him as US ambassador.
The Prime Minister is said to have left aides to question Mandelson (pictured in London this week) about his long-standing ties to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
A three-page ‘due diligence’ report submitted to Sir Keir on 11 December 2024 flagged links between Mandelson and Epstein
Jonathan Powell, the State Department’s top official and national security adviser, also expressed concerns about the process.
But Sir Keir went ahead after apparently agreeing with Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney on three questions to ask Mandelson.
No10 said it could not yet reveal details of these conversations due to the ongoing police investigation, but documents show Communications Director Matthew Doyle was ‘delighted’ with the answers.
Sir Keir, who is in Ireland today, accused Mandelson of ‘lying’ about the extent of his ties to Epstein.
Kemi Badenoch complained about ‘covering up’ of ‘incomplete’ information in government documents and called on Labor MPs to sack Sir Keir. Backbenchers accused the prime minister of dragging Labor into a ‘trough’.
The government has vowed to release extensive information about Mandelson after MPs rebelled at a House of Commons vote last month.
Sir Keir said yesterday: ‘Release of information shows what is known.
‘This led to further questions being asked.
‘Unfortunately, due to the Metropolitan Police investigation we are unable to release this information yet.
‘But that doesn’t take away from the fact that I was the one who made a mistake and I’m the one who apologized to the victims of Epstein, and that’s what I’m doing.’
Lord Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary under Gordon Brown.
He was later released on bail, but later returned his passport and was released under investigation. He denied any criminal wrongdoing or acting for personal gain.
