Keir Starmer is facing mounting calls to resign after it emerged that he approved the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States despite knowing Mandelson had maintained ties with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction.
So far, Keir Starmer’s main defence is that Mandelson “completely misrepresented the extent” of his relationship with Epstein—as if to suggest that a man who was only slightly friendly with the likes of Epstein would be fit for high public office.
But even Labour figures are refusing to accept Starmer’s excuse. One MP told the Telegraph on Thursday: “The seriousness of that admission yesterday [that Starmer knew Mandelson remained friendly with Epstein after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor] has really shaken the whole of the Labour Party. And I don’t just mean parliamentarians, the whole Labour Party.” They questioned whether the PM could even “make it through to the weekend.”
A former Labour MP also said on live television on Wednesday evening that Starmer needs to think “very hard” about resigning.
Barry Gardiner with the most truthful 105 seconds you’ll be likely to see this week. pic.twitter.com/ToryezXOe2
At the very least, officials want Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister’s chief of staff, who is often described as a protégé of Mandelson, to go. McSweeney “championed” Mandelson’s appointment, according to The New Statesman, despite Mandelson not even being on the shortlist for the role. So it’s no wonder that Labour MPs believe his position is “completely untenable.” One minister even toldThe Independent that McSweeney “should have gone months ago.”
Things got worse for Starmer on Wednesday when he was forced to back down from an attempt to restrict the publication of documents relating to the vetting of Mandelson’s appointment after strong pressure from Labour MPs, including Angela Rayner, instead agreeing to refer them to the Intelligence and Security Committee, though some papers may still be withheld on national security grounds.
It has also emerged that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the Labour government over the appointment of Mandelson, expressing unease about Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein.
Starmer on Thursday morning said in a speech that he was “sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him,” while also trying (again) to move the conversation on.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says she will be “surprised” if Starmer is still PM by Christmas. Nigel Farage also joked that he is “worried” about Starmer losing his job, since his disastrous premiership has benefited Reform.
After MPs backed plans for the ‘Mandelson files’ to be released, officials said they would be in the public domain as quickly as possible, without giving any formal timeline.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
