london —
When Keir Starmer was elected Prime Minister of Britain nearly two years ago, his promise to a nation tired of political scandal and turmoil was that the government would be different.
But the uproar over Mr Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson – whose close ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are detailed in files released by the US Department of Justice – as British ambassador to the US threatens to engulf Mr Starmer’s premiership again.
Mr Mandelson now faces a crucial week as he navigates the latest fallout from the scandal, after it was revealed on Thursday that he had failed a thorough security investigation carried out ahead of his appointment in early 2025. The Guardian newspaper reported, citing sources, that Starmer had already announced Mandelson’s appointment and that officials at Britain’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development subsequently used rare powers to override that recommendation.
Starmer insisted he was unaware of the failed review, telling reporters on Friday that he was “absolutely furious” he had not been informed.
In a bid to quell the scandal, Downing Street effectively sacked the Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant, Olly Robbins, while explaining to the media that the department had not informed Starmer that Mandelson had failed his security review.
However, this did not stop opposition members and government supporters from questioning the government. And Mr Starmer faces further challenges this week. Mr Starmer is due to address Parliament about the scandal on Monday, while Mr Robbins is due to testify before a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
Robbins will then be questioned about Mandelson’s earlier claim that the security review was carried out in line with established Cabinet Office policy and based on the normal standards set for development reviews.
What Robbins says Tuesday will determine the next chapter in this case. The Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing people close to him, that he was taking legal advice and was “angry about his dismissal.”
All this comes just weeks before local elections in which Mr Starmer’s Labor party is expected to suffer a landslide defeat. The conventional thinking is that the war with Iran has created great geopolitical uncertainty, and if someone were to challenge Starmer for leadership, it would be after the election. So the most damaging scandal of Starmer’s time as prime minister rears its ugly head again at a very volatile time for the government.
Still, key ministers have publicly defended Mr Starmer, showing that he retains some support within the cabinet. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the Guardian on Saturday that Mr Starmer “never would have appointed” Mr Mandelson had he known that the former ambassador had failed security checks.
Technology Minister Liz Kendall echoed that message on Sunday, telling Sky News that Mr Starmer was a “man of integrity” and would change course if necessary.
But his political opponents say the revelations are further evidence of serious errors in judgment on Mr Starmer’s part, and are calling for Mr Starmer to resign, claiming he misled Parliament when he detailed Mandelson’s pre-appointment process as if it had followed standard procedure.
Opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said on Friday that Mr Starmer was “either lying or completely incompetent”.
Even before further details about his relationship with Epstein emerged in recent months, Mandelson was seen as a risky bet — someone who could go toe-to-toe with President Donald Trump, but also someone who has a habit of embroiling himself in controversy. He was to be relieved of his plum diplomatic post after seven months in office.
Mr Mandelson was forced to resign from government twice, in the 1990s and early 2000s, during a career in which he built a reputation as a shrewd politician who helped rebuild the modern Labor Party.
British police arrested Mandelson in February on suspicion of misconduct in office after documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that he appeared to have leaked confidential British government data to Epstein. He was released after questioning but remains under investigation. Mr Mandelson denies any wrongdoing.
