British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a stark apology on Thursday, launching a direct attack on former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson and admitting he was wrong to trust him.
“I am sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointing him,” Starmer said, as anger continued to spread across parliament over why the appointment was made despite long-known ties between Mandelson and the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer said the depth of that connection had only now become clear.
“It had been publicly known for some time that Mandelson knew Epstein, but none of us knew the depth and the darkness of that relationship,” he said at the start of a speech in southern England.
Files released last week by the U.S. Justice Department revealed emails that underscored how close the relationship was and suggested Mandelson leaked government documents to Epstein.
Records also indicated Epstein had logged payments to Mandelson or his then-partner, now husband.
Mandelson, a senior Labour figure when the party last governed more than 15 years ago, quit the House of Lords on Tuesday and is under police investigation for alleged misconduct in office.
He has said he does not recall receiving payments and has not commented on the leaking allegations. He has not responded to requests for comment.
With polls showing Starmer already facing public discontent, some Labour lawmakers say the episode raises serious questions about his judgement and could threaten his position.
Addressing victims of Epstein, Starmer said: “I want to say this to Epstein’s victims: I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you.”
Starmer said he wanted to release the vetting advice he received before appointing Mandelson as ambassador but added that police had asked him not to release anything that could “prejudice an investigation.”
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First Lady Melania Trump has publicly denied any connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, dismissing speculation about their relationship and urging an end to what she described as “lies”.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned about the "reputational risks" of appointing Peter Mandelson as U.S. Ambassador due to his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, files released on Wednesday (11 March) show.
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The man accused of opening fire at a Washington dinner attended by Donald Trump was charged on Monday (27 April) with attempting to assassinate the U.S. President and could face life in prison if convicted.
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