Labour Rebellion Forces Starmer into Dramatic U-Turn on Mandelson Documents
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been forced into a humiliating climbdown after furious Labour MPs rebelled against his government, demanding the full release of vetting documents concerning Peter Mandelson's controversial appointment as UK ambassador to the United States.
The dramatic reversal came during a tense parliamentary debate, where Sir Keir's own integrity and judgement were openly questioned following his admission that he was aware of Lord Mandelson's ongoing relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein at the time of the appointment.
Pressure Mounts as Rayner Leads Rebellion
The prime minister's position became increasingly untenable as former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner made a crucial intervention, declaring she would support a Conservative proposal for the independent Intelligence and Security Committee to determine which documents could be published. This move effectively undermined Sir Keir's position and forced his hand.
For hours, the prime minister had attempted to restrict publication, arguing that certain details required redaction on national security grounds. This stance prompted immediate accusations from within his own party that he was engaging in a "cover-up" to protect sensitive information.
Starmer's Defence and Accusations
In a desperate attempt to draw a line under the escalating scandal during Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir launched a fierce attack on his former ambassador, who was dismissed in September following further revelations about his Epstein connections.
"Mandelson betrayed our country, our Parliament and my party," the prime minister told a packed House of Commons. "He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government."
Despite this apparent mea culpa, MPs remained unconvinced by Sir Keir's expressions of anger and promises of transparency. The parliamentary debate stretched over six hours, with fury evident on both sides of the chamber.
Labour MPs Voice Their Disgust
Former frontbencher Richard Burgon delivered a scathing critique of the culture within the Labour Party that Mandelson represented, declaring: "The appointment of Peter Mandelson to this important role was literally indefensible."
Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, Apsana Begum, demanded that internal party documents, phone messages, and electronic communications should also be released to MPs for proper scrutiny.
Another Labour MP, Paula Barker, announced she was "ashamed" at the government's attempt to limit publication of the vetting documents, adding that she "implored" ministers to remove their amendment restricting access.
Conservative Criticism and Wider Implications
From the opposition benches, Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart delivered a devastating assessment: "Peter Mandelson, it seems, helped Jeffrey Epstein and his associates make money, and that money was used to run his paedophilic prostitution ring."
He described a "heady game of who had the best contacts and who could make the most money, played by a small set of men who took their thrill from existing outside of the rules."
Prior to the government's U-turn, Labour MP John McDonnell had warned he would rebel against Sir Keir's amendment to redact documents, arguing it could lead to a cover-up. The former shadow chancellor stated: "I will vote against the government's amendment today that tries to exclude papers from the inquiry into Mandelson on the grounds of 'prejudicial to international relations'. This is so wide that it opens up the prime minister to allegations of collusion in a cover-up."
Mandelson's Departure and Ongoing Fallout
The controversy unfolded as Lord Mandelson officially retired from the House of Lords, avoiding potential removal of his peerage by Sir Keir. This move came after files released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show he leaked sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in Gordon Brown's Labour administration.
With his leadership now in turmoil, it is understood that Sir Keir is planning another major reset, with a significant speech scheduled for Thursday positioning himself as a champion of "decency and respect." However, the damage from this rebellion and the questions surrounding his judgement in appointing Mandelson may prove difficult to overcome.
