/images/ppid_59c68470-image-177036253109036071.webp)
What is the story about?
United
Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a major crisis after the name of Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the United States, emerged in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Although Mandelson, a former EU trade commissioner and a key architect of Tony Blair’s "New Labour" project, has now resigned from his post and party membership, his close relations with the convicted child sex offender have brought renewed scrutiny to his appointment in the first place.
Starmer apologised to victims of the disgraced financier on Thursday (February 5) for appointing Mandelson to the prestigious diplomatic post. He said that Mandelson had repeatedly lied and “portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.”
“I am sorry, sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him," he was quoted as saying by ABC News. His apology was issued amid opposition demands for his resignation and growing concerns among Labour lawmakers regarding his judgment.
The Mandelson scandal
Starmer's appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the United States, despite awareness of Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, has escalated into a crisis.
This came after the release of new documents and private photographs detailing warm correspondence between the two. These revelations led to Mandelson's resignation from the House of Lords earlier and triggered a police investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.
Starmer's apology and defence
The crisis was triggered by his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador, despite Mandelson’s well-documented relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Read more: Who is Peter Mandelson and why his name in Epstein files is a massive scandal
Starmer admitted that he appointed Mandelson as ambassador despite knowing his continued contact with Epstein even after his 2008 conviction, claiming he was unaware of the true "depth and darkness" of their relationship.
Although Starmer dismissed Mandelson in September after just seven months in the role, he now faces internal backlash from Labour MPs who blame Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney for pushing the appointment. While opposition parties are intensifying demands for McSweeney’s removal, Starmer continues to defend his top aide.
Pressure mounts on Starmer
In a direct challenge to Starmer's authority, Labour MPs forced the government to submit all documents regarding Mandelson’s appointment to the Intelligence and Security Committee, overriding the Prime Minister's attempt to release only selected material.
Labour lawmaker Karl Turner described the atmosphere as the "angriest" he had witnessed Labour MPs in 16 years. "We can’t pretend that this is not a crisis situation," Turner told Times Radio.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branded Starmer’s position "clearly untenable" and urged a no-confidence vote, suggesting his departure is "a question of when, not if, he goes." This leadership instability arrives at a perilous moment for the party, with poor performance predicted in the upcoming by-elections and local contests.
Potential successors of Starmer
As per a report in The Guardian, there is no clear successor to Starmer, despite resentment within the Labour ranks. While new MPs reportedly discuss leadership challenges, no contender appears "brave enough" to trigger Starmer’s downfall.
"If you are not brave enough to be first out of the traps, you don’t deserve to be prime minister," one of the four MPs from the 2024 intake told the outlet.
Read more: World Economic Forum investigates its CEO over Epstein links
Angela Rayner is seen as a potential frontrunner, but her position is weakened by an awaiting HMRC ruling over unpaid stamp duty. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has support among some MPs, but his past closeness to Peter Mandelson is now viewed as a liability.
Defence Minister Al Carns has also been mentioned as a possible alternative, though he has not indicated interest. As one senior Labour MP told The Guardian, "The biggest thing Keir has going for him right now is that there’s not an obvious successor".
