Labour's Keir Starmer Briefed on Epstein Links Before Appointing Muddled Friend, Critics Say
Senior civil servants have revealed that Labour leader Keir Starmer was briefed on the details of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him as US ambassador. The revelation raises questions about whether Starmer properly considered the reputational risks associated with making the appointment.
According to Chris Wormald, the cabinet secretary, a report from the Cabinet Office contained "a summary of reputational risks" that included Mandelson's past association with the disgraced financier. This information was already in the public domain, as it had been reported that Mandelson stayed at Epstein's Manhattan flat in 2009 and facilitated a meeting between Epstein and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2002.
Despite this, Wormald acknowledged that Starmer ultimately made the decision to appoint Mandelson. The briefing process involved various checks, including a conflict of interest declaration and national security vetting by the Foreign Office. However, the department has admitted that Mandelson's appointment was announced before the full vetting process was complete.
Oliver Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, said that Mandelson was sacked over a tranche of leaked emails in which he expressed his support for Epstein and urged him to fight for early release while the financier faced charges. The revelation led to the decision to withdraw Mandelson's ambassadorial appointment to Washington.
Critics have accused Starmer of not being fully informed about Mandelson's past before backing him as US ambassador. Robbins acknowledged that while officials were trying to confirm the authenticity of the emails without involving ministers, Starmer was only told that there was a media inquiry underway when asked about his support for Mandelson at prime minister's questions.
The government has since introduced new guidance for politically appointed ambassadors aimed at preventing a repeat of the Mandelson scandal. The updated guidelines require candidates directly appointed by ministers to undergo pre-appointment interviews and informal discussions with senior officials.
As the fallout from the Mandelson affair continues, Starmer's office has been left to explain how he was able to support a friend who had such close ties to a convicted sex offender. The episode raises questions about the Labour leader's judgment and his ability to manage the party's reputation in times of crisis.
Senior civil servants have revealed that Labour leader Keir Starmer was briefed on the details of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him as US ambassador. The revelation raises questions about whether Starmer properly considered the reputational risks associated with making the appointment.
According to Chris Wormald, the cabinet secretary, a report from the Cabinet Office contained "a summary of reputational risks" that included Mandelson's past association with the disgraced financier. This information was already in the public domain, as it had been reported that Mandelson stayed at Epstein's Manhattan flat in 2009 and facilitated a meeting between Epstein and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2002.
Despite this, Wormald acknowledged that Starmer ultimately made the decision to appoint Mandelson. The briefing process involved various checks, including a conflict of interest declaration and national security vetting by the Foreign Office. However, the department has admitted that Mandelson's appointment was announced before the full vetting process was complete.
Oliver Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, said that Mandelson was sacked over a tranche of leaked emails in which he expressed his support for Epstein and urged him to fight for early release while the financier faced charges. The revelation led to the decision to withdraw Mandelson's ambassadorial appointment to Washington.
Critics have accused Starmer of not being fully informed about Mandelson's past before backing him as US ambassador. Robbins acknowledged that while officials were trying to confirm the authenticity of the emails without involving ministers, Starmer was only told that there was a media inquiry underway when asked about his support for Mandelson at prime minister's questions.
The government has since introduced new guidance for politically appointed ambassadors aimed at preventing a repeat of the Mandelson scandal. The updated guidelines require candidates directly appointed by ministers to undergo pre-appointment interviews and informal discussions with senior officials.
As the fallout from the Mandelson affair continues, Starmer's office has been left to explain how he was able to support a friend who had such close ties to a convicted sex offender. The episode raises questions about the Labour leader's judgment and his ability to manage the party's reputation in times of crisis.
I cant believe Keir Starmer wasnt fully aware of Peter Mandelsons ties to Epstein before making him US ambassador 
like what was he thinking?!? 
The government is trying to spin this but it's clear that Starmer made a huge mistake 
and now his reputation is taking a hit 
I think we need more transparency in the briefing process so we can trust our leaders to make good decisions 
. The fact that Mandelson got sacked over some leaked emails doesn't really say anything about Starmer's judgment, it just says he's really good at getting rid of people who mess up 
. And let's be real, the government is just trying to spin this as a scandal because they're jealous of Labour's cool ambassador 
. The new guidance for ambassadors is just a waste of time and resources, it's not like it would've prevented this whole thing from happening 
.
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like come on, mandelson stays at epsteins pad and has a convo with blair... thats not exactly subtle info lol anyway its clear starmer wasnt fully in the loop about mandelsons shady past so how could he expect the public to trust him now?