Starmer faces MPs as pressure grows over Mandelson scandal

2026-02-04 - 12:56

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (right) speaks with Britain’s Ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, during a welcome reception at the ambassador’s residence. (AFP pic) LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced growing pressure today over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, after fresh revelations about the disgraced politician’s close ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer was set to be grilled in parliament about his judgement in appointing Mandelson, following new allegations that the ex-envoy had passed confidential information to the late US sex offender Epstein nearly two decades ago. UK police have announced they are now probing the claims, which emerged from email exchanges between the pair that revealed the extent of their warm relations, financial dealings as well as private photos. Around that time, Epstein was serving an 18-month jail term for soliciting a minor in Florida while Mandelson was a UK government minister. For decades a pivotal and often divisive figure in British politics, Mandelson has had a chequered career having twice been forced to resign from public office for alleged misconduct. Starmer sacked him as UK ambassador to the US last September after an earlier Epstein files release showed their ties had lasted longer than previously revealed. He had only been in