Starmer admits Mandelson appointment a mistake amid 'cover-up' claims
Starmer admits Mandelson appointment a mistake amid 'cover-up' claims
Starmer takes responsibility for the Mandelson appointment and apologizes to Epstein victims as new files prompt questions over vetting and potential misdirection.
Downing Street has denied allegations of a cover-up after the first tranche of files about Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador were published. The documents raise questions about the vetting process and the government's handling of the appointment, which peers had warned could carry a general reputational risk due to Mandelson's ties to Epstein.
In his first public appearance since the trove, Keir Starmer admitted he made a misstep in appointing Mandelson and offered a personal apology to Epstein's victims; he said the release shows what was known, and that, because of the Metropolitan Police investigation, some details couldn't be released yet. He stressed that the admission of a mistake does not erase the apology owed to the victims.
Questions linger about whether Starmer misled MPs about due process, with Liberal Democrats calling for him to refer himself to the ethics adviser for potentially misleading Parliament. The files also show national security adviser Jonathan Powell raising concerns that Mandelson's appointment had been weirdly rushed, adding fuel to the controversy.
Analysts say the fallout could complicate Starmer's leadership as the party weighs its response amid ongoing scrutiny and a tense political climate.
