Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is confronting fresh scrutiny over his decision to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, following the release of government documents detailing prior warnings about Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The release on Wednesday exposed that Starmer was informed of Mandelson’s “particularly close” ties to Epstein and the associated “general reputational risk.”
Warnings and Appointment Details
The documents include a “due diligence” report stating that Mandelson maintained a close relationship with Epstein from 2002 through the 2000s, including after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring an underage girl. It also noted Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s residence while Epstein was jailed in 2009 and was a founding citizen in a 2014 ocean conservation group established by Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
National security adviser Jonathan Powell expressed caution about Mandelson’s appointment, highlighting potential reputational risks. Despite this, Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney stated he was satisfied with Mandelson’s vetting responses. The documents also reveal Starmer received advice against making a political appointment rather than a diplomatic one, with foreign secretary David Lammy supporting the political appointment of Mandelson.
Response to Leaked Emails and Resignation
In September 2025, emails leaked that revealed the extent of Mandelson’s Epstein connections, prompting a government meeting where Starmer expressed concern about ongoing undisclosed information and discomfort within Labour ranks. Starmer then proposed asking Mandelson to resign. Mandelson was sacked in September 2025 but remained on full pay until mid-October. He requested a settlement payment of £574,201, later agreeing to £75,000.
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones confirmed Starmer has acknowledged it was a mistake to appoint Mandelson and apologized for believing Mandelson’s assurances during vetting. Some documents remain withheld as part of an ongoing police investigation.
Political Fallout
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of having “lied repeatedly about what he knew when, and how,” calling the issue a resignation matter. Badenoch argued the vetting process revealed Mandelson should not have been appointed, leaving Starmer politically vulnerable within his party.
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