Sir Keir Starmer has given his full backing to Lord Mandelson, despite a rising clamour for Britain’s ambassador to the US to be sacked over his newly revealed links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, a challenger for the deputy leadership, became the first Labour MP to call for Mandelson to be removed and said ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus should investigate him.
Two other Labour MPs, Ian Byrne and Kim Johnson, also hit out at Mandelson’s appointment.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who began the calls for him to quit, said the ambassador was “mired in scandal”, asking the prime minister whether he had been aware of Mandelson’s “intimate relationship” with Epstein.
It has also emerged that the ambassador brokered a business deal with Epstein even after the latter had been convicted of child sex offences.
Sir Keir replied: "The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with him. He is right to do so. I have confidence in him, and he is playing an important role in the UK-US relationship."
He refused to say whether he knew of the pair’s relationship before Mandelson’s appointment but said due process was followed during that appointment.
Key Points
- Labour MPs turn on Starmer after PM backs Mandelson
- Lord Mandelson brokered business deal with Epstein after conviction
- Labour deputy leadership candidates to make their pitch in hustings
- Starmer grilled by Badenoch on Mandelson after Epstein revelations
- PM faces criticism ahead of Herzog meeting
Fourth Labour MP calls for Mandelson to go
16:49
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Jane Dalton
A fourth Labour MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Of course he should go. And he has had good practice in resigning.”
The MP told The Telegraph: “He probably has a standard letter on his website.”
He quit as Trade and Industry secretary in 1998 after accepting a £373,000 loan from then paymaster general to buy a house in west London.
And he quit as Northern Ireland in 2001 after being accused of helping one of the Hinduja brothers get a British passport in return for a £1m donation to the Millennium Dome. Mandelson was cleared by an inquiry.
Third Labour MP slates Mandelson's appointment
16:38
,
Jane Dalton
A third Labour MP has attacked Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Ian Byrne have already done so.
Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, claimed Lord Mandelson was “complicit” and never should have been appointed in the first place.
Ms Johnson told The Telegraph: “I totally agree [with Bell]. But the fact is this was known before he was given this position in America as the ambassador.
“As much as he says on radio that he regrets it, the fact is that he called him his ‘best pal’ in his birthday card, he made money from him.
“That suggests to me a very strong relationship because who sends cards with those comments on? He should never have got it in the first place.”
More 'very embarrassing' Epstein revelations to come, Mandelson says
15:50
,
Athena Stavrou
Peter Mandelson has admitted that more details about his relationship with Jefferey Epstein are “going to come out”.
But, asked whether there were more revelations to come about he and Esptein, Lord Mandelson said: “I have no doubt at all that there’s a lot of traffic, correspondence, exchanges between us – absolutely. And we know those are going to surface.
“We know they’re going to come out.
“We know they’re going to be very embarrassing, and they know that I’m going to profoundly regret ever having met him and been introduced to him in the first place.”
UK fires warning shot to Putin and says Poland airspace breach has ‘united’ Nato
15:34
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Athena Stavrou
John Healey has asked the UK armed forces to bolster Nato’s air defences over Poland after the country was forced to shoot down Russian drones in its airspace following an “extremely reckless” move by Vladimir Putin.
Read the full story:
Lib Dems call for Mandelson investigation
15:31
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Athena Stavrou
The Liberal Democrats have called for a probe into whether the British ambassador to the US has broken the diplomatic code.
Leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Lord Mandelson has serious questions to answer over his relationship with the vile sex trafficker and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
“The Civil Service Commission needs to look into whether the ambassador has broken the diplomatic service code by failing to come clean over this sooner.
“With Trump in the White House, we cannot afford to have an ambassador to the United States who is compromised by ’embarrassing’ secrets.”
Lord Mandelson says he 'never saw any evidence' of Epstein's crimes
15:16
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Athena Stavrou
Commenting on what he knew of Jefferey Epstein’s behaviour at the time he knew him, Lord Mandelson said: “I just would say this … during all the time I was an associate of his, I never saw the wrongdoing. I never saw any evidence of criminal activity.
“I never sought and nor did he offer any introductions to women in the way that allegedly he did for others.
“Perhaps it’s because I’m a gay man, perhaps when I knew him, perhaps when I was associated with him those years ago, as I did with my then partner and now husband, we never, ever saw any evidence or sign of this activity, which has since come to light.
“That’s why I feel so profoundly upset by what has been now revealed about what he did to women and why I feel profoundly upset that I was taken in by him and continued my association with him for far longer than I should have.”
Lucy Powell hopeful of getting 80 nominations today
15:07
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s Kate Devlin reports:
Two Labour MPs could secure the 80 nominations crucial to getting on the ballot paper in the party’s deputy leadership race today.
Sources close to Lucy Powell are hopeful she could also pass the threshold.
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is expected to get the numbers later today - even before the would-be candidates make their pitch at a hustings for other MPs this evening.
Labour MPs criticise Starmer for backing Mandelson
14:59
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Athena Stavrou
More Labour MPs have criticised the prime minister for continuing to back Peter Mandelson.
Liverpool MP Ian Byrne, who had the Labour whip restored in February after being suspended following a vote on the two-child benefit cap, told the Independent: “MPs get suspended by the party like I did for voting against putting children and disabled people into poverty, but calling the world’s most infamous pedophile and child trafficker ‘your best pal’ amongst other comments, that’s ok!
“It stinks to high heaven.”
Lord Mandelson brokered business deal with Epstein after child sex offence conviction
14:48
,
Athena Stavrou
It has also emerged that Epstein brokered a deal with Lord Mandelson over the sale of a taxpayer-owned business after he had been convicted of child sex offences.
An investigation by The Daily Telegraph has detailed a two-decade friendship between Lord Mandelson and Epstein, which lasted even after Epstein was jailed for a child sex offence in 2008.
Months after the late paedophile had been released from prison, he negotiated the deal alongside then Labour business secretary Lord Mandelson.
Epstein advised both Lord Mandelson and senior JP Morgan executive Jes Staley on the firm’s purchase of Sempra Commodities, a joint venture between the publicly owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Sempra Energy.
Mr Staley has since been banned from the City for misleading the Financial Conduct Authority over his relationship with Epstein.
Emails obtained by the paper show Epstein introducing Lord Mandelson to Mr Staley, setting up at least two meetings between the pair before JP Morgan’s purchase of Sempra.
After one meeting, Epstein asked Mr Staley: “Was Petie helpful?” Lord Mandelson being nicknamed “Petie” by the notorious paedophile, has been seen as a stark example of how close the pair grew.
Labour MPs turn on Starmer after PM backs Mandelson amid growing calls for him to quit over Epstein links
14:31
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has rejected growing calls to sack the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his dealings with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Angry Labour MPs have today joined calls for him to go. Breaking ranks, Labour deputy leadership hopeful Bell Ribeiro-Addy called for an investigation, saying “there will be a huge amount of concern, and if the outcome is that he should resign, he should”.
Read the full story:
Starmer says he has confidence in Mandelson
14:19
,
Jane Dalton
The Prime Minister has said he has "confidence" in Lord Mandelson after it emerged the British ambassador to the US had described paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein as his "best pal".
At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer said "due process was followed" during the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch asked whether he had been aware of the pair’s “intimate relationship” when he appointed Lord Mandelson to be the UK ambassador in Washington.
Sir Keir replied: "As she and the House would expect, full due process was followed during this appointment, as it is with all ambassadors.
"The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret, he is right to do so, he's now playing an important part in the US-UK relationship."
The Tory leader further pressed the Prime Minister on whether it was "tenable" for Lord Mandelson to remain in post.
Sir Keir replied: "The relationship between the US and the UK is one of our foremost relationships, and I have confidence in the ambassador in the role that he is doing."
Labour MP joins clamour for Mandelson to be sacked
14:03
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Jane Dalton
A Labour deputy leadership contender is the first MP in her party to call for Lord Mandelson to be sacked.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy said the US ambassador should face an investigation by the prime minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus.
Ms Ribeiro-Addy was asked by the i paper whether Lord Mandelson should remain in post.
She replied: “No... I think that’s going to disturb quite a few people.”
Ms Ribeiro-Addy added: “There should definitely be an investigation into it because there will be a huge amount of concern and if the outcome is that he should resign, he should.”
No 10 refuses to comment on PM's judgment
13:51
,
Jane Dalton
Downing Street has refused to comment on mounting questions over the prime minister's political judgement in appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US following revelations about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Asked about his judgment, the prime minister's official spokesperson said: "The association has been in the public record some time, and the ambassador has repeatedly addressed it".
Asked whether Sir Keir Starmer looked Lord Mandelson in the eye and asked him directly about his relationship with the convicted paedophile before he was appointed, the spokesperson said: “We have been very clear that the victims of Jeffrey Epstein are all fronts of our minds, he was a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women as girls."
Lord Mandelson went through “extensive security vetting and background checks” by the Foreign Office and the Cabinet Office, the spokesperson said, adding that Downing Street maintained confidence in the screening process.
Downing Street insists Mandelson was thoroughly vetted
13:19
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Athena Stavrou
Downing Street insisted Lord Mandelson went through a robust vetting process before being appointed ambassador to the US.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We have been very clear that the victims of Jeffrey Epstein are at the forefront of our minds, he was a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women and girls.
“On the appointment process, any candidates for ambassador positions are subject to extensive vetting and background checks by the Foreign Office and Cabinet Office as a matter of course.
”Asked if the Prime Minister was surprised by the latest revelations, the spokesman said: “The ambassador himself has repeatedly addressed the association.”
PMQs recap
13:11
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer faced another week of questions in the Commons on Wednesday.
Here is a summary of what happened:
- The PM began the session by sending condolences to the royal family after the death of the Duchess of Kent and backed Poland after it shot down Russian drones in its airspace.
- He vowed to pile pressure on Israel when he meets the country’s president today and condemned the country’s strike on Qatar.
- Kemi Badenoch focused on the PM’s continued backing of Lord Mandelson, after a birthday message he sent to Jefferey Epstein resurfaced.
- Sir Keir refused to say whether or not he was aware of the relationship Epstein and Mandelson before he was appointed to the role of ambassador.
- His decision to host the Israeli president was condemned by SNP’s Stephen Flynn.
PM faces criticism for Herzog meeting
12:55
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Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has faced strong criticism about his meeting with Israeli president Isaac Herzog today.
The topic was raised repeatedly during PMQs, with the prime minister asked by SNP’s Westminster leader whether he would also “invite Vladimir Putin into number ten?”
He asked: “What does it say of this prime minister that he will harbour this man whilst children starve?”
Hundreds of Pro-Palestine protesters gathered on Whitehall opposite Downing Street on Tuesday evening.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP has said Mr Herzog could be in the Hague rather than on a “flight to London”, while Green Party leader Zack Polanski said the Government was “welcoming war criminals” ahead of the visit.
Sir Keir vowed to make it “absolutely clear” during the meeting that he condemns Israeli action in Qatar and said he would tell Mr Herzog that “restrictions on aid must be lifted, the offensive in Gaza must stop, and settlement building must cease”.
Ed Davey joins Badenoch in questioning Starmer on Mandelson
12:43
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has questioned what other “compromising material” the Trump administration has on Lord Mandelson.
Speaking during PMQs on Wednesday, Sir Ed said: “Lord Mandelson has admitted to continuing his relationship long after Epstein was convicted, and there are more embarrassing details we don’t yet know.
“People will be surprised by the Prime Minister giving ambassador Mandelson such strong support today.
“Has the Prime Minister asked the ambassador what other compromising materials the Trump administration might have on him, as he leads Britain’s negotiations with the White House?”
Sir Keir responded: “A full due process was gone through when the appointment was made.”
Watch: Starmer condemns Russian drones flying over Poland
12:42
,
Athena Stavrou
PMQs finished, urgent questions begin
12:41
,
Athena Stavrou
This week’s PMQs has now finished, with Sir Keir Starmer facing tough questions on Peter Mandelson, his meeting with the Israeli president and his cabinet reshuffle.
There is now an urgent question in the Commons on the Israeli strike in Qatar, and another on the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones.
Starmer asked to publish documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment
12:37
,
Athena Stavrou
Publishing documents about Lord Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador to the US and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein “will be subject to the usual procedures”, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the Commons the prime minister’s support for Mandelson was “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
She said: “This Government has repeatedly – repeatedly – refused to declare Lord Mandelson’s full interests, and as part of the appointment, there will have been extensive Government vetting, including details and timings of Peter Mandelson’s dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.
“So will the Prime Minister publish all these documents, including those about his interests?”
Prime Minister Sir Keir replied: “Well, as I say, full due process was gone through in relation to this appointment, as would be expected.
“As for the publication of documents, as she well knows, that’s subject to a procedure which includes an independent element. It will be subject to the usual procedures.”
Starmer slams ‘shocking and baseless vaccine claims’ at Reform UK conference
12:36
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has had his weekly PMQs pop at Nigel Farage, using a tee up from Labour MP Dr Simon Opher to attack Reform UK over vaccines.
The prime minister slammed the “shocking and baseless claims” made at Reform UK’s conference that Covid vaccines may have caused the King and Princess of Wales's cancer.
Dr Assem Malhotra spoke from the main stage at the jamboree, making a series of claims about the pharmaceutical industry, politicians and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Asked about the claims, Sir Keir said: “I am proud that Labour are protecting half a billion children by rolling out the chickenpox vaccines.
“In stark contrast, the man who wrote Reform’s health policy has made shocking and baseless claims that vaccines are linked to cancer and has been endorsed by Reform and endorsed by Reform leaders.
“These dangerous conspiracies cost lives, but it shows that reform can't be trusted with our NHS.”
Analysis: Starmer is losing friends on the Labour benches over his defence of Mandelson
12:30
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Kemi Badenoch and almost everyone in the Commons chamber knows that Lord Mandelson has been a weak link in Keir Starmer’s strategy to woo the Trump administration.
It started badly because the US president, as first revealed by the Independent, almost rejected his credentials over the links to China.
But the connection to the disgraced businessman and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was always going to be a problem.
Now it is coming to the surface with a friendship Mandelson had with him for many years including after he was arrested.
Nobody really believes that someone as experienced and cynical as Lord Mandelson was taken in by Epstein.
But worse for Starmer is that Mandelson is a hate figure for many in Labour, especially the left. He was the architect of the Blairite revolution and a ruthless operator.
If people were already unhappy with the direction of the Starmer government in the party they will be disturbed to see him giving the peer such a robust defence today.
SNP compares Izaac Herzog to Vladimir Putin
12:28
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Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Stephen Flynn has condemned the prime minister’s decision to welcome Israeli president Isaac Herzog to Downing Street.
“Would he invite Vladimir Putin into number 10? Would he invite Benjamin Netanyahu into No 10? What does it say of this Prime Minister that he will harbor this man whilst children starve?” the SNP Westminster leader said.
The prime minister said the SNP were practicing “student politics” and that he was pursuing “an outcome that ensures peace, that the hostages get out, that aid gets in under a two-state outcome”.
Sir Keir Starmer tries to deflect from Labour chaos claiming Tory leadership race has been 'going on for months'
12:24
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s poltical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has sought to dodge questions over the chaos within the Labour Party, instead taking aim at the Tories and claiming their leadership race "has been going on for months".
As the race to succeed Angela Rayner gets underway, Sir Keir Starmer faced questions from Kemi Badenoch over the disorder within the government.
"The unions are running this government. All the deputy leadership candidates are chasing after them. And with this government, it is more strikes, more scandal, more chaos. And the link, Mr. Speaker, between all of this is his bad decisions, his bad judgment and his total weakness", Mrs Badenoch said.
But hitting back, Sir Keir Starmer pointed to speculation that Robert Jenrick could be a better Tory leader than Kemi Badenoch, saying: "Our deputy contest started this week and ends on the 25th of October. Their leadership contest has been going on for months."
Ambassador is distracted by Epstein scandal, Badenoch says
12:20
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Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Kemi Badenoch has said Lord Mandelson cannot go on as US ambassador to Washington as he is distracted by the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The Tory leader said the Labour grandee should be “in the White House talking about how we respond to an incursion into NATO airspace”.
She said: “Instead, he is giving interviews about himself to the Sun. This is a man who already had to be removed from cabinet twice, and now we learn that he was brokering billion pound deals with Jeffrey Epstein while business secretary.”
Sir Keir said Lord Mandelson is in the White House discussing Nato.
Analysis: Kemi Badenoch going for the kill on Lord Mandelson
12:17
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Having let the prime minister off the hook last week over Angela Rayner, Kemi Badenoch is not making the same mistake this week.
She is using her six questions about the growing concerns over Lord Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson appears to be in trouble and there are serious questions over what the government knows about his links with Epstein given it would have done a deep dive into his past before he became ambassador to the US.
“A load of waffle,” Ms Badenoch says of Starmer’s evasive answers before launching on “his bad decisions, his bad judgement and his weakness.”
Good day for the Tory leader.
Starmer refuses to say whether he was aware of Epstein-Mandelson relationship before ambassador appointment
12:14
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s poltical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether or not he was aware of the relationship between paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson before he was appointed to the role of ambassador.
Instead, the prime minister just said “full due process was followed during this appointment, as it is with all ambassadors”.
It came after the prime minister insisted he has confidence in Mr Mandelson, despite the recent revelations about the ambassador’s relationship with Epstein.
‘Victims of Epstein are at forefront of our minds,’ Starmer says as he backs Mandelson
12:10
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has said he has full confidence in Lord Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
The prime minister said Jeffrey Epstein’s victims are “at the forefront of our minds” as he defended the Labour grandee.
Kemi Badenoch raised questions about the revelation Lord Mandelson had described the late paedophile as his “best pal” who he “loves”.
Sir Keir said: “The victims of Epstein are at the forefront of our minds. He was a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women and girls. The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with him. He's right to do so.
“I have confidence in him, and he's playing an important role in the UK US relationship.”
Starmer to condemn Israel’s military action in meeting with president
12:05
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to pile pressure on Israel when he meets the country’s president this evening.
The prime minister has come under pressure to cancel his meeting with Izaac Herzog, but said he would not “walk away from a diplomatic solution”.
Speaking at PMQs, Sir Keir said: “I will be absolutely clear that we condemn Israel's action.
I will also be clear that restrictions on aid must be lifted. The offensive in Gaza must stop, and settlement building must cease.”
PMQs begin
12:01
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer is now facing his weekly questions in the Commons.
It is the first PMQs since his major cabinet reshuffle, with several major issues on the table.
The prime minister began by sending condolences to the royal family after the death of the Duchess of Kent, and condemned Israeli strikes on Qatar.
Topics likely to be raised include his backing of Peter Mandelson after Jefferey Epstein revelations, his controversial meeting with the Israeli president this afternoon and Labour’s deputy leadership contest.
We’ll bring you the latest updates here.
Culture secretary attacks Farage’s GB News show
11:55
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy is giving evidence to the culture, media and sport committee in the Commons and has taken aim at Nigel Faragre’s show on GB News.
She told MPs: “I've had particular concerns raised with me by parliamentarians about the appearance of Nigel Farage presenting news programs on GB News. I think that is a fair criticism from members of Parliament of all political parties, because the public have a right to know if what they're seeing is news and is impartial, or is not.”
She warned: “One of the challenges that that then creates for public service broadcasters is that people lose trust in the news altogether.
“Now that is then a challenge for the whole country, because the way in which people consume their news has polarised and fragmented, and people are reading different accounts, those shared spaces, and that shared understanding that is the basis of democracy is fracturing.”
She added: “I think that is very, very dangerous, a very dangerous position for a country to be in, and it's something that we intend to robustly defend, is the impartiality of our news.”
Pictured: Starmer leaves Downing Street ahead of PMQs
11:39
,
Athena Stavrou
Who is Peter Mandelson?
11:28
,
Athena Stavrou
Lord Mandelson is the grandson of former Labour home and foreign secretary Herbert Morrison.
His work as a political fixer for the Labour Party has seen him go on to spend five decades at the heart of Labour politics.
He became the Labour Party’s director of communications in 1985 before being elected as a MP in Hartlepool in 1992.
He was made director of Labour’s landslide 1997 general election campaign and was then handed a role in Sir Tony Blair’s government.
He then became trade secretary and Northern Ireland secretary, but had to resign from both roles.
He then stood down as an MP to become the European Commissioner for the UK before returning to parliament in 2008 as a peer.
He served as a business secretary under Gordon Brown and when Labour were kicked out of government in 2010, he co-founded a lobbying firm.
Last December, he was appointed to be the British ambassador to the US.
Starmer to face PMQs
11:10
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer will face his weekly questions in the Commons at midday.
He will be grilled by the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, and other MPs for the first time since his major cabinet reshuffle.
He will likely face questions on Peter Mandelson, as well as his controversial meeting with the Israeli president this afternoon and Labour’s deputy leadership content.
Healey condemns Russia as he meets with E5 defence ministers
10:53
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Athena Stavrou
Defence Secretary John Healey said Russia’s actions were “reckless, unprecedented and dangerous” after Poland shot down multipl