Starmer Says He Was Wrong to Appoint Mandelson as UK Envoy in Epstein-Linked Row

Keir Starmer has acknowledged that appointing Peter Mandelson as Britain’s envoy to Washington was a mistake, amid a political storm linked to Mandelson’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

The admission comes as Starmer faces growing pressure over revelations that Mandelson failed security vetting before assuming the diplomatic post last year.

According to the Prime Minister, senior officials failed to inform him that Mandelson had not passed the required security clearance until recently, despite longstanding knowledge of concerns around his ties to Epstein.

Mandelson was removed from office in September 2025, seven months after his appointment, following further disclosures about his relationship with Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Speaking to lawmakers, Starmer conceded:

“At the heart of this, there is also a judgment I made that was wrong. I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson.”

He criticised officials for failing to escalate the security concerns:

“Officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system.”

He added:

“If I had known… that developed vetting clearance should be denied, I would not have gone ahead with the appointment.”

The Prime Minister has since dismissed senior civil servant Olly Robbins and ordered a review of vetting procedures, though the move has sparked criticism from former officials who accuse him of deflection.

Opposition figures are now calling for Starmer to resign, citing alleged mismanagement and lack of transparency.

Starmer had previously told Parliament that all proper vetting procedures were followed before Mandelson’s appointment.

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