Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership is under growing pressure from Labour MPs, angry at his decision to approve the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson to the role of US ambassador despite knowing about his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
“It’s just indefensible,” said one backbencher. “They knew all about Peter’s relationship with Epstein but gave him the job anyway.”
“It’s like Chris Pincher on steroids,” they added, referring to the scandal that eventually brought down Boris Johnson. “The moment Keir admitted it then that was it – it’s over.”
Starmer said that the Labour peer had “lied repeatedly” about the extent of the relationship, while No10 tried to control the release of potentially explosive documents, which provide insight into how the decision was made.
Sir Keir faced a backlash from his own back benches, including his former deputy Angela Rayner, and has now been forced into a humiliating climbdown.
One MP warned: “Trust is finite. I’m personally not sure I could trust myself to back the prime minister in a confidence vote.”
Lord Mandelson officially retired from the Lords after files released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) last Friday appear to show he leaked sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in Gordon Brown's Labour administration.
Read MoreThe 11 most explosive emails between Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson
From Labour ‘Prince’ to Epstein shame: How Lord Mandelson fell from grace
Angela Rayner wields the knife that could finish Keir Starmer – but will she take the crown?
Key Points
- 'It's over', says one MP as pressure grows on Starmer
- Labour rebels force PM into humiliating climbdown on Mandelson files
- Starmer admits he was aware of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein when making appointment - watch
- Government to comply with MP-backed motion
- Mandelson documents won't be released today as government refuse to confirm release date
'A liar is going to lie': Steve Reed
08:20 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSir Keir Starmer believed Lord Peter Mandelson when he made out his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein "was next to nothing," Steve Reed has said.
"You're only as good as the information you receive," the Cabinet minister told LBC Radio.
"Mandelson made out that relationship barely existed, that they hardly knew each other.
"There was a vetting process that included the security forces as well, and they flagged up no additional concerns...
"A liar is going to lie."
Mr Reed said the government wants to publish documents that show "what the Prime Minister saw when Peter Mandelson lied to him" before his appointment as ambassador to Washington "as quickly as possible".
"We need to look at the documents that will show the extent to which Peter Mandelson was lying," he said.
Morgan McSweeney ‘safe in his job’, says minister
08:01 , Athena StavrouA government minister has insisted Sir Keir Starmer’s controversial chief of staff Morgan McSweeney will not be sacked.
Mr McSweeney is said to have pushed for Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador and has been accused of bringing the former peer back into the heart of government and the Labour Party.
But when asked if Mr McSweeney is safe in his job, housing secretary Steve Reed told Sky News: “Yes, of course he is.”
He said: “The person at fault here is not the prime minister or his team, it is Peter Mandelson who lied manipulated and deceived everybody, including the media, actually, because he was on the media an awful lot as well. He conned everybody.”
Minister insists Starmer’s position is secure despite growing questions over his judgement
07:53 , Holly EvansHousing secretary Steve Reed has insisted Sir Keir Starmer’s position as prime minister is secure - despite his leadership being under growing pressure from Labour MPs.
But asked if Sir Keir’s position was secure, Mr Reed said: “Of course it is.”
“What's gone on here is that Peter Mandelson, we now know, lied absolutely to everybody,” he told the BBC.
“He lied about his relationship, the depth of it, the extent of it, with Jeffrey Epstein. He made out it was pretty much nothing….but as soon as the prime minister found out the truth, he acted with decisiveness and integrity, and he sacked Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador.”
Mandelson 'lied, manipulated and deceived everybody', says minister
07:43 , Holly EvansLord Peter Mandelson “conned everybody,” Cabinet minister Steve Reed insisted as he sought to stress the Prime Minister and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney were not “at fault”.
The Housing Secretary – a loyalist of Sir Keir Starmer – told Sky News: “The person at fault here is not the Prime Minister or his team.
“It is Peter Mandelson who lied, manipulated and deceived everybody, including the media, actually, because he was on the media an awful lot as well. He conned everybody.
“What matters is what you do when you find out what’s gone wrong. And the Prime Minister couldn’t have been more decisive. He sacked Peter Manson at 5am in the morning as US ambassador months ago.”
Mr Reed said he felt like he had “been punched in the stomach” when he found out about Lord Mandelson’s dealings with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from the documents released by US authorities.
'It's over', says on MP as pressure grows on Starmer
07:35 , Holly EvansThe mood among Labour MPs has increasingly darkened since Sir Keir Starmer admitted during PMQs that they had been aware of Mandelson’s friendship with the convicted paedophile when appointing him to the Washington job.
“It’s just indefensible,” said one backbencher. “They knew all about Peter’s relationship with Epstein but gave him the job anyway.
“It’s like Chris Pincher on steroids,” they told The Guardian, referring to the scandal that eventually brought down Boris Johnson. “The moment Keir admitted it then that was it – it’s over.”
Another former minister said: “We were meant to be the ones who didn’t do this stuff. It’s time for a fresh start, the sooner the better.”
Mandelson had tried to secure Russian visa for Epstein
07:19 , Holly EvansThe files also suggest that Lord Mandelson tried to secure a Russian visa for Epstein, with an email exchange showing Epstein asked how he could get a visa, to which Lord Mandelson responds that “Ben can get visas thru OD”.
This is thought to refer to Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, the co-founder of Lord Mandelson’s lobbying firm Global Counsel, and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
Mr Deripaska hit the headlines in the UK in 2008 when it emerged he had hosted then shadow chancellor George Osborne and then European trade commissioner Lord Mandelson on his superyacht off Corfu.
Scandal could mark end of Starmer's premiership, says Labour peer
07:10 , Holly EvansLabour peer Lord John Hutton, who served as a Cabinet minister under Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, said he thought the handling of the scandal could mark the end of the Sir Keir’s time in office.
He told LBC it is “clearly” the end of Lord Mandelson’s career, but added that “it could well mark the end of the Prime Minister’s time in office”.
He said he expected Labour MPs would be having some “very serious reflections” on the direction of government and cast doubt on whether sacking chief of staff Morgan McSweeney would be enough to fix the troubles facing Sir Keir.
He added: “I don’t think the Prime Minister can be rescued by an avalanche of new parliamentary aides or aides in No 10. I think the change has got to come from the very top, not from the other ranks of the Government.
“And I don’t know whether that change is possible tonight. It doesn’t really look to me like it is.”
Watch: Alistair Campbell says Peter Mandelson was 'drawn to the wealthy crowd' amid Epstein files release
07:00 , Bryony GoochRecap: How will the Mandelson files be release?
06:00 , Bryony GoochA Cabinet Officer minister has set out how documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson will be released to the Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).
Chris Ward said: “Release of information will be done, either through the Cabinet Secretary working with independent lawyers, or if the material is deemed to be potentially conflicting with national security or foreign relations, it will be handed to the ISC, who are independent. They can make the decision.
He added: “There will not be political involvement for ministers.
“There will not be political involvement from Number 10 in this process – this is the cabinet secretary and the ISC working with lawyers on it.”
He said some documents could touch on sensitive issues, including foreign intelligence and trade.
Starmer vows to defend ‘decent Britain’ amid fury over Mandelson
05:00 , Bryony Gooch Starmer vows to defend ‘decent Britain’ as he faces fury over Mandelson appointment
Watch: Starmer admits he was aware of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein when making appointment
04:00 , Bryony GoochLabour's Mainstream group calls for 'clean break' after 'betrayal' of Mandelson appointment
03:00 , Bryony GoochThe controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson – who has quit the House of Lords, resigned from the Labour Party, been removed from the Privy Council and faces a criminal investigation following new revelations from the so-called Epstein files – has led to intensifying questions about Sir Keir’s political future.
Labour’s Mainstream group called for a “clean break” after the “betrayal” of the peer’s appointment to “one of the most powerful diplomatic posts on the planet” despite his friendship with Epstein being public knowledge.
The centre-left grouping, which is backed by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – long seen as a potential leadership rival to Sir Keir – said its members did not want to watch the party “succumb to the same old sickness” of “elite privilege, spin and toxic factionalism”.
Labour rebels force PM into humiliating climbdown on Mandelson files
02:00 , Bryony Gooch Labour rebels force Starmer into humiliating climbdown on Mandelson files
Watch: Most shocking emails between Mandelson and Epstein
01:00 , Bryony GoochAnne McElvoy: Epstein will be remembered as an even bigger scandal than the Profumo affair
00:00 , Bryony Gooch In Britain, Epstein will go down as an even bigger scandal than the Profumo affair
Pictured: Starmer in House of Commons
Wednesday 4 February 2026 23:00 , Bryony Gooch Starmer to ward that communities' 'devastating decline' could impact national security in bid to move on from Mandelson
Wednesday 4 February 2026 22:48 , Bryony GoochSir Keir Starmer will warn that communities’ “devastating decline” could imperil national security, as he seeks to move on from the growing anger over the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.
The prime minister will say “Britain has been undermined by political neglect” on Thursday as £800 million in new funding to revamp decrepit high streets is announced.
Sir Keir is expected to say: “Britain has been undermined by political neglect, the scorched earth of Tory austerity. In towns across Britain, the same story, high streets, youth clubs – the places that shape a life – that bring different people together, that create the bonds of memory and pride – they were just abandoned.
“Because politics in this dangerous era is no longer about left and right, but a contest between renewal and grievance. Between those who accept the idea that society is a zero-sum competition and those who believe we can unite for the higher purpose.”
Marr: There's 'no way back' for the Prime Minister
Wednesday 4 February 2026 22:29 , Bryony GoochAndrew Marr has declared “We have entered the final stage of the Starmer premiership” as there is “no way back for the Prime Minister, live on LBC.
'We have entered the final stage of the Starmer premiership.'
— LBC (@LBC) February 4, 2026
@AndrewMarr9 says there's 'no way back' for the Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/GlQ1hfu0zx
Starmer gives in on civil servant veto plan
Wednesday 4 February 2026 22:00 , Jane DaltonDocuments will be released by the Cabinet Secretary working with lawyers or, for material deemed to potentially conflict with national security or foreign relations, it will be passed to the Intelligence and Security Committee to decide, a minister has said.
The Prime Minister had backed down from his original plan for top civil servant Sir Chris Wormald to decide which documents could not be released on national security grounds or because they could prejudice international relations.
Under pressure from Labour MPs, led by former deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Sir Keir Starmer accepted the decision could be made by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) instead.
Minister Chris Ward told the Commons: "I just want to confirm to the house the material will not be released today because of the conversation with the Metropolitan Police over that, but it will be released as quickly as possible, in line with the process set out before the House."
He said there was "a lot of material" to go through and pointed to other humble addresses that have taken "weeks or months".
Starmer biographer says PM had 'misgivings' about appointing Mandelson to begin with
Wednesday 4 February 2026 21:30 , Bryony GoochSir Keir Starmer’s biographer has said the documents that will be published relating to Peter Mandelson's vetting must show that the PM "knew more than was already in the public domain" for it to be damaging to his premiership.
Speaking to Sky News, Tom Baldwin questioned whether "anybody seriously thinks" Sir Keir would appoint Mandelson now, with the knowledge now available.
"I do think it's difficult to question someone's judgement unless you know what facts they had at their disposal beforehand," he added.
"So I think for people to say this was a scandalous misjudgement, yeah, they have to show that Keir Starmer knew more than was already in the public domain at the time of the time, and presumably that's what the inquiry will find out."
Watch: Lord Speaker announces Peter Mandelson to step down from House of Lords
Wednesday 4 February 2026 21:00 , Bryony GoochGovernment to comply with MP-backed motion
Wednesday 4 February 2026 20:48 , Bryony GoochNo 10 has said the government would comply with a motion backed by MPs and publish documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Peter Mandelson’s actions were unforgivable.
“He lied to the Prime Minister, hid information that has since come to light and presented Jeffrey Epstein as someone he barely knew.
“We will comply with the motion, including publishing documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment, which will show the lies he told.”
Minister reveals how documents will be released
Wednesday 4 February 2026 20:14 , Bryony GoochA Cabinet Officer minister has set out how documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson will be released to the Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).
Chris Ward said: “Release of information will be done, either through the Cabinet Secretary working with independent lawyers, or if the material is deemed to be potentially conflicting with national security or foreign relations, it will be handed to the ISC, who are independent. They can make the decision.
He added: “There will not be political involvement for ministers.
“There will not be political involvement from Number 10 in this process – this is the cabinet secretary and the ISC working with lawyers on it.”
He said some documents could touch on sensitive issues, including foreign intelligence and trade.
Downing Street vows to honour MPs' motion
Wednesday 4 February 2026 20:03 , Jane DaltonNo 10 said said the government would comply with a motion backed by MPs and publish documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "Peter Mandelson's actions were unforgivable.
"He lied to the Prime Minister, hid information that has since come to light and presented Jeffrey Epstein as someone he barely knew.
"We will comply with the motion, including publishing documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment, which will show the lies he told."
Who is Peter Mandelson and what do we know about his ties to Epstein?
Wednesday 4 February 2026 20:00 , Bryony Gooch Who is Peter Mandelson and what do we know about his relationship with Epstein?
Watch: Rayner calls for release of files related to Mandelson's US ambassador appointment
Wednesday 4 February 2026 19:44 , Bryony GoochPolice have 'no jurisdiction' over Commons says Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Wednesday 4 February 2026 19:29 , Bryony GoochThe Metropolitan Police has “no jurisdiction” over the Commons, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said, after the force said the release of certain documents related to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US would “undermine” their investigation into the disgraced peer.
Sir Lindsay told the Commons: “The Metropolitan Police have no jurisdiction on what this House may wish to do. It will be whether the Government provides or not. But just to let you know, they cannot dictate to this House.
“I’m going to leave it at that.”
Conservative former minister Simon Hoare had asked the Speaker if he will be “working with the Cabinet Office to ensure that the rights and privileges of members of this House are protected”.
“You know, as well as I do, Sir, the importance of privilege to this place,” Mr Hoare said.
Analysis: Rayner wields the knife on Starmer – but will she take the crown?
Wednesday 4 February 2026 19:23 , Bryony Gooch Rayner wields the knife that could finish Starmer – but will she take the crown?
Mandelson documents won't be released today as government refuse to confirm release date
Wednesday 4 February 2026 19:13 , Bryony GoochDocuments relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador will not be released today, a Cabinet Office minister has said.
Chris Ward told the Commons: “I just want to confirm to the house the material will not be released today because of the conversation with the Metropolitan Police over that, but it will be released as quickly as possible, in line with the process set out before the House.”
He did not confirm when the documents would be released but said it would be “as soon as possible”.
“We want to get with this,” he said.
“There is a lot of material here to go through. We will get through this as quickly as possible. Other humble, other humble addresses have taken a number of weeks or months.”
Recap: Starmer's hands appeared to be shaking as he talked about Mandelson in PMQs
Wednesday 4 February 2026 19:12 , Bryony GoochSir Keir Starmer appeared to be visibly nervous as he answered questions about Lord Mandelson in PMQs.
Footage published on social media shows his hands visibly shaking.
Great spot by @Con_Tomlinson - Starmer’s hands shaking whilst discussing Mandelson in the Commons. He knows he’s done. pic.twitter.com/TU3WArU0fp
— Patrick Christys (@PatrickChristys) February 4, 2026
Breaking: MPs approve release of documents
Wednesday 4 February 2026 19:05 , Bryony GoochAfter a long day of debate, MPs have approved the release of documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador to the United States.
The net is closing in on Starmer’s righthand man
Wednesday 4 February 2026 18:55 , Bryony GoochDavid Maddox, political editor, reports:
Ministers and other senior figures in Labour have given the prime minister an ultimatum that he must sack his controversial chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
It was McSweeney who pushed for Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador and brought him back into the heart of the government.
He also has been accused of bringing Mandelson back into the heart of government and the Labour Party.
One minister told The Independent: "Morgan has to go - and should have gone months ago".
McSweeney was already under fire for a failed Downing Street briefing against health secretary Wes Streeting before Christmas and has been focus of anger from MPs as Starmer’s government has struggled in the polls.Tory leader Kemi Badenoch referred to him as “poison” in the heart of government.
Farage asks European Anti-Fraud Office to investigate Mandelson
Wednesday 4 February 2026 18:51 , Bryony GoochReform UK leader Nigel Farage has written to the European Anti-Fraud Office asking them to investigate whether Peter Mandelson used his tenure as EU Trade Commissioner for personal financial gain.
I have written to the European Anti-Fraud Office asking them to investigate whether Peter Mandelson used his tenure as EU Trade Commissioner for personal financial gain. pic.twitter.com/PG5w9lmgd1
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) February 4, 2026
The 11 most explosive emails between Epstein and Mandelson
Wednesday 4 February 2026 18:45 , Bryony Gooch The 11 most explosive emails between Epstein and Mandelson
Starmer ducks Mandelson debate in the Commons
Wednesday 4 February 2026 18:40 , Bryony GoochKate Devlin, Whitehall Editor, reports:
The prime minister has not been present for the almost six-hour long debate on Mandelson in the House of Commons.
The government’s case is currently being ‘summed up’ by a junior cabinet office minister Chris Ward, an ally of Starmer.
Earlier, Starmer faced a barrage of questions on Mandelson from Kemi Badenoch at PMQs, and was forced to admit he knew about Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein before he made him US ambassador.
Labour rebels force Starmer into humiliating climbdown on Mandelson files
Wednesday 4 February 2026 18:30 , Bryony Gooch Labour rebels force Starmer into humiliating climbdown on Mandelson files
Tory MP suggests Labour government would have known about Mandelson staying in Epstein's flat
Wednesday 4 February 2026 18:20 , Bryony GoochMillie Cooke, Political Correspondent, reports:
"No one can say that the Labour government did not know" about Peter Mandelson staying Jeffrey Epstein's flat when he was a minister, Tory MP Alicia Kearns has said.
She explained that when she was a civil servant, she always "knew where my ministers were staying when they were abroad".
Ms Kearns told the government: "We also knew that while he was deputy prime minister of this country and business and trade secretary, carrying the flag of our great nation on an official visit to New York, he stayed in a convicted paedophile’s flat. How dare he do that while representing this country?"
She said it "raises serious questions about why he was not pursued for misconduct in public office back at that point", adding: "No one can say that the Labour government did not know.
"Because, having been a civil servant, I knew where my ministers were stying when they were abroad – not sure they always wanted me to know, but I knew. And none of them would have ever done that.”
95 per cent of Brits aware of the Mandelson-Epstein story, poll finds
Wednesday 4 February 2026 18:15 , Bryony GoochKate Devlin, Whitehall Editor, reports:
A new poll shows the sheer extent to which the Mandelson scandal has reached members of the public.
Almost everyone in the country is aware of the story emerging from the latest release of the Epstein files, the survey by YouGov found.
And a whopping 44 per cent said that they were following it either very or fairly closely.
Sometimes it is a political cliche to say voters are watching what is happening in Parliament. But on this issue this poll suggests they definitely are.
Met Police asks government not to release 'certain documents' in order not to 'undermine investigation'
Wednesday 4 February 2026 18:06 , Bryony GoochThe Metropolitan Police has asked the Government not to release “certain documents” relating to Jeffrey Epstein because it could “undermine our current investigation”, Commander Ella Marriott, from the force, has said.
Commander Ella Marriott said: “As with any investigation, securing and preserving any potential evidence is vital.
“For this reason, when approached by the UK Government today with their intent to publish material, we reviewed it immediately and advised that the release of specific documents could undermine our current investigation. We therefore asked them not to release certain documents at this time.
“Going forward as material is made available to us, and if we identify further documents that we believe could prejudice our investigation, we will continue to ask the Government to pause their release until such time as the risk of prejudice no longer exists. The integrity of our investigation is paramount to securing justice. We are grateful for their cooperation.
“We continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation.”
Angela Rayner intervenes to support the Tory demands
Wednesday 4 February 2026 13:23 , Holly EvansOur political editor David Maddox writes:
Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, a woman now being discussed as a potential replacement for Keir Starmer, has just intervened to support the Tory demands.
She noted that she brought a humble address in 2022 and agreed with the Tory argument that all documents should be run through the Intelligence and Security Committee of parliamentarians for them to decide if they were not appropriate to share because of national security concerns.
This is a significant intervention and will be seen as giving some wavering Labour MPs permission to vote against the government amendment for it to be allowed to sift out documents.