Starmer apologises to Epstein victims for believing Mandelson’s ‘lies’
21 minutes agoBecky MortonPolitical reporter
PA MediaSir Keir Starmer has apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for believing Lord Mandelson’s “lies” and appointing him as the UK’s ambassador to the US.
The prime minister began a planned speech on funding to improve local communities by addressing the growing anger over how he had dealt with the issue.
While he acknowledged it had been publicly known for some time that Lord Mandelson knew Epstein, he said: “None of us knew the depths and the darkness of that relationship.”
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the PM’s position was “untenable”, while the Liberal Democrats called for a confidence vote to see if Labour MPs supported him.
The prime minister is facing calls from some of his own MPs to stand down.
While the handful of backbenchers to do so publicly are frequent critics of the PM, many more have raised concerns privately.
Sir Keir’s former political director Luke Sullivan said he thought the PM was “fighting for his premiership”.
He told the BBC’s Newscast: “I don’t think you can understate how serious the situation and the peril is that the prime minister finds himself in.”
Seeking to defuse the row in a speech earlier, Sir Keir said he regretted appointing Lord Mandelson and would not have done so if he had known what he knows now.
Directly addressing Epstein’s victims, he said: “I am sorry, sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him and sorry that even now you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.”
Sir Keir has promised to release files, which he says will prove Lord Mandelson lied about the extent of his friendship with Epstein when he was being vetted for the US ambassador role.
The government was forced into a climbdown by Labour backbenchers, after it had planned to withhold some sensitive material.
After a Commons vote, the government will pass documents which could damage national security or diplomatic relations to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), rather than withholding them.
The ISC says the government should decide which documents are made public – and which are not.
They say this will be done by the cabinet secretary, with an expectation the documents are laid before parliament “very shortly”.
At the time, Lord Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador in December 2024, it was public knowledge that he had maintained a friendship with Epstein after his conviction for soliciting sex from a minor.
In 2023, the Financial Times reported emails suggesting he stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion in 2009, while the financier was in jail.
The PM said Lord Mandelson was asked directly about the nature of his relationship with Epstein before he was appointed as ambassador, whether he had stayed at his home after his conviction and whether he had accepted gifts and hospitality from him.
“The information now available makes clear that the answers he gave were lies,” he said.
“He portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.
“And when that became clear and it was not true, I sacked him.”
The BBC understands Lord Mandelson’s view is that he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein in the vetting process accurately.
ReutersChallenged after his speech over whether he should stand down as PM, Sir Keir said he understood the “anger and frustration amongst Labour MPs” over Lord Mandelson.
However, he added: “I was elected on a mandate in 2024 to change the country for the better… that’s what I intend to do.”
Labour MP Rachael Maskell told BBC Radio York Sir Keir’s position was “untenable” he had “no choice” but to step down.
Meanwhile, Paula Barker, who represents Liverpool Wavertree, said the PM “has shown that his judgement is questionable”.
“I think he has a very long way to build trust and confidence with public and trust and confidence within our party as a whole,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Jonathan Hinder, the MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, said the PM’s decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador was a “catastrophic error of political and moral judgement”.
He called on Sir Keir to speak to Labour MPs in person and acknowledge this.
Sir Keir has also faced calls to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who was close to Lord Mandelson and widely thought to have lobbied for his appointment.
Karl Turner, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, said the PM had been given “shoddy” advice over the appointment.
He told the BBC he did not want a new prime minister but called on Sir Keir to “get a grip” and for McSweeney to go.
Downing Street has insisted the PM has full confidence in his chief of staff.
Lord Mandelson was sacked last September, following the emergence of new emails revealing supportive messages he sent to Epstein after he pleaded guilty to sex offences.
In recent days, more documents released by the US Department of Justice have laid bare the extent of their relationship.
They include emails suggesting Epstein made payments worth thousands of pounds to Lord Mandelson and his partner.
Police are investigating allegations of misconduct in public office, after other emails in the files suggested Lord Mandelson forwarded on market-sensitive information to Epstein when he was business secretary during the financial crisis in 2009.
Lord Mandelson has not responded to requests for comment, but the BBC understands his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.
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