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.”
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meetin...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of having a “bullying mentality” at the United Nations Gene...
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the M...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv and Moscow continue to strike energy infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his team held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York that he described as “very good” and “productive”, with another round of talks scheduled soon.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
Executives from leading artificial intelligence companies warned the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday that increasingly powerful AI systems could pose serious risks to humanity and international security, calling for governments to work together to manage the technology.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei criticised the United Nations on Wednesday for what he described as looking “the other way” as tensions with Britain escalate over oil exploration around the Falkland Islands.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told the UN that Tehran will not surrender to U.S. pressure but remains open to diplomacy, responding to Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” Iran.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment