Mandelson Papers Reveal Starmer Ignored Epstein Warnings
The judgment of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces renewed and intense scrutiny following the release of official documents that detail how he was explicitly warned about the dangers of appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. The first tranche of papers, produced into the controversial appointment, shows Sir Keir received detailed briefings highlighting Lord Mandelson's "close ties" with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, connections to China, and problematic business links that posed a "general reputational risk" to the government.
Ignored Advice and Controversial Payout
The files make it unequivocally clear that Sir Keir proceeded to ignore these stark warnings. This decision appears to have been influenced after his then-chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and former director of communications, Matthew Doyle—described in the documents as a "personal friend" of Lord Mandelson—seemed to offer support for the Labour peer. Furthermore, the documents reveal that Lord Mandelson received a taxpayer-funded settlement of £75,000 following his dismissal in September, a figure agreed to avoid a protracted legal challenge, despite his initial demand exceeding £500,000.
Key Revelations from the Documents
The released files contain several damning revelations, including:
- Sir Keir was informed that Lord Mandelson had stayed at Epstein's residence and maintained contact with him even after Epstein's 2008 conviction for procuring an underage girl, during Mandelson's tenure as Business Secretary.
- The Prime Minister was cautioned about Mandelson's extensive links to China and his various business interests.
- National security adviser Jonathan Powell found the appointment process "weirdly rushed," while Sir Philip Barton, the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, also registered his objection.
- It emerged that Lord Mandelson had arranged a meeting between Epstein and former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair in 2002, describing the financier at the time as "young and vibrant" and "safe."
Notably, 31 files were released, but correspondence between Number 10 and Lord Mandelson concerning follow-up questions about his relationship with Epstein was withheld, as it remains part of an ongoing police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office.
Political Fallout and Mounting Pressure
These documents heap significant additional pressure on a Prime Minister whose political future has been under doubt for months. They raise profound concerns about his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson—a figure twice previously sacked from government roles—over available career diplomats. The publication timing, occurring after Prime Minister's Questions, left Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones to face parliamentary scrutiny instead of Sir Keir, infuriating MPs.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the actions, stating, "Starmer knew Mandelson had stayed close friends with Epstein after the conviction for child prostitution, but made him ambassador anyway. Now we see he paid Mandelson almost £80k of our money. His judgment is shocking."
In defence, Mr. Jones told the Commons the settlement was to avoid higher costs from a drawn-out legal claim. However, criticism was bipartisan. Labour MP Richard Burgon remarked that Mandelson wouldn't have been approved as a local council candidate but was elevated to a crucial ambassadorial role. Former minister Justin Madders added that any constituent lying during a job application would have "no chance" of compensation.
Ongoing Investigations and Further Disclosures
Tory shadow minister Alex Burghart stated the documents confirm prior knowledge of the relationship, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey labelled them "Britain's Epstein files," urging Mandelson to donate his payout to charity. A second, potentially more damaging batch of papers is pending publication, contingent on police approval to avoid interfering with their criminal investigation into Mandelson. Mr. Jones asserted these future files will demonstrate the Prime Minister was "lied to" by Mandelson, who "should never have been allowed to represent the UK," and that Sir Keir "regrets appointing him as ambassador."
Business Links and Lobbying Concerns
The documents also highlight reputational risks associated with Lord Mandelson's lobbying firm, Global Counsel. It notes potential issues with clients including TikTok, Shell, Accenture, the Premier League, JP Morgan, Santander, BP, Sizewell C, and Shein, particularly regarding their dealings with UK or US governments. The firm did not declare lobbying clients in the last quarter of the Sunak administration, with media reports noting its expansion post-election. This adds to existing questions about an off-the-books meeting Sir Keir had with Mandelson in Washington with another client, Palantir.
