London Mayor Defends Prime Minister Amid Growing Political Crisis
Sir Sadiq Khan has delivered a robust defence of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership during the escalating Lord Peter Mandelson controversy, employing a striking football analogy to make his case. The London Mayor declared that "Starmer must stay" while condemning the disgraced peer's behaviour as "arrogant" in his handling of the Epstein files.
Football Analogy Highlights Leadership Support
Speaking to The Observer, Sir Sadiq drew a parallel between political leadership and football management to argue against premature judgment of the Prime Minister. "Football is a 90-minute game," Khan stated emphatically. "You wouldn't dream of saying in the 35th minute because you're 2-0 down - we'll take all the players off and sack the manager."
The Mayor, who has served for ten years in his role, suggested that critics should allow the Prime Minister time to address the situation properly rather than demanding immediate resignations over the Mandelson appointment debacle.
Scathing Criticism of Mandelson's Conduct
In the same interview, Sir Sadiq launched a blistering attack on Lord Mandelson's involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "The whole Mandelson saga is a case study in 'there's one rule for the elites and the establishment and there's another rule for the rest of us'," Khan asserted.
The Mayor expressed particular outrage about Mandelson's knowledge of the Epstein files. "It also shows the arrogance of the man. The only person who knew what was in those files was Peter Mandelson. It beggars belief he still put himself forward to be the ambassador to the US."
Focus on Victims and Survivors
When questioned about whether the appointment raised concerns about Sir Keir's judgment, Sir Sadiq redirected attention to those most affected by Epstein's crimes. His "starting point" was the "victims and survivors," he explained.
"Everyone's talking, understandably, about market-sensitive information being leaked for personal gain," Khan noted, "but if you're the victim of paedophilia, if you're the victim of rape, you will say, 'Hold on a second, what about me?'"
Political Opposition Intensifies Criticism
The Mayor's defence comes as Conservative Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has intensified her attacks on the Prime Minister. Badenoch claimed yesterday that Sir Keir "chose not to care" about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein despite having evidence of the peer's misconduct.
"I believed Starmer knew," Badenoch told The Telegraph. "If the Conservative Research Department knew Mandelson had continued that friendship [with Epstein], everybody knew. But Starmer chose not to care. He promised to be whiter than white, yet gave us self-righteousness and false piety."
Prime Minister's Response and Apology
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the controversy directly during a speech in Hastings, insisting that "none of us knew the depth of the darkness" of Lord Mandelson's friendship with Epstein. The Prime Minister revealed that before the appointment, Mandelson was "asked directly" about his relationship with the convicted sex offender.
"The information now available makes clear that the answers he gave were lies," Sir Keir stated. "He portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew. And when that became clear and it was not true, I sacked him. Such deceit is incompatible with public service."
The Prime Minister expressed regret for having believed Mandelson's falsehoods and for appointing him as US ambassador in February 2025, while also criticising the vetting process conducted by security services.
Revelations from Epstein Files
Recently released documents and photographs from the Epstein files have revealed disturbing connections between Mandelson and the disgraced financier. Images show the pair together on a yacht and celebrating a birthday at Epstein's Paris apartment in 2007 - after Epstein had already been arrested, charged and bailed over soliciting prostitution from a minor.
A Cabinet Office propriety and ethics report compiled before Mandelson's appointment revealed the peer had stayed at Epstein's townhouse in 2009 while the financier was in prison. The report, which summarized reputational risks from publicly available information, would likely have included a 2019 JP Morgan internal report noting Epstein "appears to maintain a particularly close relationship" with Mandelson.
Ongoing Investigations and Fallout
The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating accusations that Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving as business secretary during the financial crisis. Meanwhile, Labour MPs have reportedly begun "open revolt" after the Prime Minister admitted to the Commons that he had known about Mandelson's Epstein links.
Jeffrey Epstein, who cultivated relationships with global elites, was found dead in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for orchestrating an international child sex abuse network. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell is currently imprisoned for helping recruit schoolgirl victims.
A spokesman for Lord Mandelson stated: "Lord Mandelson regrets, and will regret until his dying day, that he believed Epstein's lies about his criminality. Lord Mandelson did not discover the truth about Epstein until after his death in 2019. He is profoundly sorry that powerless and vulnerable women and girls were not given the protection they deserved."
