Mandelson Epstein scandal to ‘bring down’ Starmer’s government | Politics | News
The Mandelson-Epstein scandal feels ‘end of days’ for Sir Keir Starmer, a commentator says (Image: Getty)
The Mandelson-Epstein scandal engulfing Labour has an “end of days” feel for Sir Keir Starmer and his government, a political commentator said. Patrick Maguire, Chief Political Commentator at The Times, said after watching the Prime Minister in Parliament it felt “slightly end of days” for the Government and the affair “wouldn’t end well for anybody”.
Mr Maguire, speaking after Sir Keir addressed the Commons, told Times Radio on Wednesday: “It has a sort of, late Partygate feel to it. Regardless of whose fault it was or who was mates with who, ultimately there’s no way to spin this other than as a pretty unforced and spectacular error of judgement by the Prime Minister himself.”
He urged listeners to consider the faces of Labour’s frontbench in the Commons. The Westminster watcher asked: “How do you come back from this, in terms of the authority and dignity of the office? Yeah, it’s just really bad for the Labour Party and the Prime Minister.
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The analysis came after Sir Keir admitted in Parliament earlier today that he knew about Lord Peter Mandelson’s friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when he appointed him ambassador to the US. But Sir Keir claimed the peer “lied repeatedly” about the extent of the relationship.
The Prime Minister told the Commons Lord Mandelson had “betrayed our country” by leaking information from the heart of government to Epstein and said he had spoken to King Charles to have Lord Mandelson removed from the Privy Council.
Sir Keir agreed to release papers on Lord Mandelson‘s appointment as long as they do not prejudice national security or international relations.
He said Scotland Yard had raised issues about releasing anything that would prejudice their investigation into Lord Mandelson’s alleged misconduct in public office.
Labour MPs have put pressure on ministers to let a parliamentary committee look at sensitive files related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States.
Former deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, was among the backbench MPs who suggested Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) oversight could have a role “in keeping public confidence” in the scrutiny process.
The Conservatives have used a Commons motion to demand the release of “all papers relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment” as London’s ambassador in Washington.
These papers could include documents about Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, alongside vetting material.
Sir Keir has tabled an amendment to withhold some “papers prejudicial to UK national security or international relations”, raising claims of a possible cover up.
The PM promised a documents disclosure process led by the head of the civil service, Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald, supported by Government lawyers.
Ms Rayner asked the Commons if it was right for the ISC to look at the documents to maintain public confidence.
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said there was a role for select committees and he acknowledged what the Commons was saying.
Lord Mandelson has yet to speak publicly about the scandal.
Angela Rayner said the Intelligence and Security Committee could play a role (Image: Getty)
A political appointment rather than a career diplomat, he was sacked from his Washington role in September last year over his links with Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019.
His continued association with Epstein following his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor had been widely reported before his return to the political front line when he was named as ambassador in 2024.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch – who has led the parliamentary push for papers relating to the appointment to be disclosed – repeatedly asked Sir Keir if he knew Lord Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein had continued after the conviction.
She said: “Can the Prime Minister tell us did the official security vetting he received mention Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein?”
Sir Keir replied: “Yes it did. As a result, various questions were put to him.”
The Prime Minister told MPs what was not known was the depth and extent of the relationship.
Labour’s leader said: “He lied about that to everyone for years, and new information was published in September showing the relationship was materially different from what we’d been led to believe. When the new information came to light, I sacked him.”
