Starmer's Political Crisis Deepens Over Mandelson-Epstein Scandal

UK Prime Minister Faces Mounting Pressure Over Ambassador Appointment

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the most severe political crisis of his premiership after admitting he knew about Lord Peter Mandelson's ongoing friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when appointing him as UK ambassador to Washington. The scandal has erupted following the release of over 3 million pages of Epstein documents in early 2026, revealing deeper connections between Mandelson and the disgraced financier than previously known.

'He Lied and Lied and Lied Again'

During a heated Prime Minister's Questions session in the House of Commons, Starmer unleashed his fury at Mandelson, declaring: 'Mandelson lied, he lied and he lied again. He betrayed his country and his party by passing confidential government information to Epstein.' The Prime Minister confirmed that Mandelson had been removed from the Privy Council by King Charles and would lose his 'Lord' title.

The controversy centers on Mandelson's appointment as British Ambassador to the United States in February 2025, despite his known connections to Epstein dating back to the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. According to documents released by The Guardian, Starmer knew about these connections during the vetting process but proceeded with the appointment anyway.

Criminal Investigation and Political Fallout

The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Mandelson for alleged misconduct in public office, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The investigation focuses on claims that Mandelson passed market-sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as Business Secretary under Gordon Brown from 2008 to 2010.

Labour MPs have expressed fury at the scandal, with veteran left-winger John McDonnell calling on Starmer to 'consider his position' and warning that the issue could 'bring down a government.' According to Huffington Post reports, one Labour MP described Starmer's performance in Parliament as witnessing 'the political death of the prime minister.'

Document Release U-Turn

Facing intense pressure from both opposition parties and his own backbenchers, Starmer was forced to perform a U-turn on releasing documents related to Mandelson's appointment. Initially, the government wanted to retain power to block publication citing national security concerns, but after pressure from senior Labour MPs including Angela Rayner and Meg Hillier, the government agreed that relevant documents would be referred to Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee for vetting before release.

The newly released Epstein documents reveal that Mandelson received substantial payments from Epstein and maintained a closer relationship than previously disclosed. In one email to Epstein, Mandelson wrote that he had 'always been there for him,' according to CNN reporting.

Mandelson's Fall from Grace

Peter Mandelson, once known as the 'Prince of Darkness' for his media-savvy reputation and key role in creating New Labour under Tony Blair, has seen a spectacular fall from grace. According to his Wikipedia biography, Mandelson served as Business Secretary, Northern Ireland Secretary, and European Trade Commissioner before his brief tenure as US ambassador.

Since the scandal broke, Mandelson has resigned from the Labour Party, given up his seat in the House of Lords, and faces potential criminal charges. He has denied wrongdoing, claiming he sought Epstein's advice on financial policy matters.

The scandal comes at a particularly difficult time for Starmer's government, with poor poll ratings and crucial local elections approaching in May. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has led Conservative attacks in Parliament, demanding full transparency and questioning Starmer's judgment in appointing Mandelson despite knowing about his Epstein connections.