The UK political landscape is rocked by the sudden dismissal of Lord Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the US, following the emergence of emails revealing the extent of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed Mandelson's withdrawal, citing new information contained within the emails that painted a materially different picture of his association with Epstein than previously known.
Specifically, Mandelson's suggestion that Epstein's initial conviction was wrongful proved to be the final straw. Mindful of the victims of Epstein's heinous crimes, the Prime Minister acted swiftly to remove him from his post with immediate effect.
Starmer Under Fire
The drama doesn't end there. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of deliberately misleading the public about what he knew regarding Mandelson's correspondence with Epstein. According to reports, Downing Street and the Foreign Office were aware of the supportive emails as early as Tuesday, a day before Starmer publicly defended Mandelson at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).
Badenoch didn't mince words, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that it appeared the Prime Minister and Labour MPs had spent the week "lying to the whole country." She added, "If No 10 had those emails for 48 hours before acting, it means he lied at PMQs and ministers lied again about new additional information. These are yet more errors of judgment."
Labour MP Weighs In
Even within Labour ranks, concerns are being raised. Backbench MP Olivia Blake described No 10's handling of the situation as "really embarrassing," stating that any operation failing to inform the Prime Minister about such substantial information clearly had "deep failings." She also suggested the possibility of Mandelson being required to leave the House of Lords should be considered.
- The Prime Minister initially defended Lord Mandelson.
- Newly revealed emails showed Mandelson's support for Epstein even after his conviction.
- Kemi Badenoch accuses Starmer of lying about his knowledge of the emails.
Downing Street has yet to fully address the accusations, promising a statement soon. The scandal continues to unfold, raising serious questions about transparency and judgment within the highest levels of the UK government.