Tories skewer Starmer as PM claims Mandelson ‘completely misrepresented’ extent of Epstein relationship
Law enforcement shouldn't be political.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to admit in Parliament that he was previously made aware of disgraced former Ambassador Peter Mandelson’s relationship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer, who is attempting to distance himself and the Labour government from the former ambassador and Labour titan, appeared for Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday in the House of Commons, where he was grilled mercilessly by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
“I’m as angry as the public and any member of this House,” Starmer told the members of Parliament. “Mandelson betrayed our country, our Parliament, and my party. Mr. Speaker, he lied repeatedly to my team about his relationship to Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I deeply regret appointing him.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, talks with Britain’s ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador’s residence on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)
“If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government,” Starmer continued. “And that is why, Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the cabinet secretary, with my support, took the decision to refer material to the police, and there is now a criminal investigation.”
The Metropolitan Police of London announced on Tuesday that they were launching an investigation into a “former Government Minister for misconduct in public office offenses” following “further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice.”
Badenoch was not satisfied with Starmer’s defense, recalling that a journalist from the Financial Times had informed Starmer in January 2024 that Mandelson had stayed at Epstein’s house even after the financier’s conviction on child prostitution charges.
Starmer explained there had been a “due diligence” vetting process and security screening, eliciting groans as he said, “What was not known was the depth and extent of the relationship.”
Mandelson is accused of sharing sensitive government information with Epstein over the years, relating to such topics as U.K. tax and financial policy planning. The documents released by the Department of Justice also seem to assert that Mandelson and his now-husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, received tens of thousands of dollars in financial payments from the deceased financier.
The Labour government has promised …
Law enforcement shouldn't be political.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to admit in Parliament that he was previously made aware of disgraced former Ambassador Peter Mandelson’s relationship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer, who is attempting to distance himself and the Labour government from the former ambassador and Labour titan, appeared for Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday in the House of Commons, where he was grilled mercilessly by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
“I’m as angry as the public and any member of this House,” Starmer told the members of Parliament. “Mandelson betrayed our country, our Parliament, and my party. Mr. Speaker, he lied repeatedly to my team about his relationship to Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I deeply regret appointing him.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, talks with Britain’s ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador’s residence on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)
“If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government,” Starmer continued. “And that is why, Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the cabinet secretary, with my support, took the decision to refer material to the police, and there is now a criminal investigation.”
The Metropolitan Police of London announced on Tuesday that they were launching an investigation into a “former Government Minister for misconduct in public office offenses” following “further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice.”
Badenoch was not satisfied with Starmer’s defense, recalling that a journalist from the Financial Times had informed Starmer in January 2024 that Mandelson had stayed at Epstein’s house even after the financier’s conviction on child prostitution charges.
Starmer explained there had been a “due diligence” vetting process and security screening, eliciting groans as he said, “What was not known was the depth and extent of the relationship.”
Mandelson is accused of sharing sensitive government information with Epstein over the years, relating to such topics as U.K. tax and financial policy planning. The documents released by the Department of Justice also seem to assert that Mandelson and his now-husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, received tens of thousands of dollars in financial payments from the deceased financier.
The Labour government has promised …
Tories skewer Starmer as PM claims Mandelson ‘completely misrepresented’ extent of Epstein relationship
Law enforcement shouldn't be political.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to admit in Parliament that he was previously made aware of disgraced former Ambassador Peter Mandelson’s relationship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer, who is attempting to distance himself and the Labour government from the former ambassador and Labour titan, appeared for Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday in the House of Commons, where he was grilled mercilessly by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
“I’m as angry as the public and any member of this House,” Starmer told the members of Parliament. “Mandelson betrayed our country, our Parliament, and my party. Mr. Speaker, he lied repeatedly to my team about his relationship to Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I deeply regret appointing him.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, talks with Britain’s ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador’s residence on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)
“If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government,” Starmer continued. “And that is why, Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the cabinet secretary, with my support, took the decision to refer material to the police, and there is now a criminal investigation.”
The Metropolitan Police of London announced on Tuesday that they were launching an investigation into a “former Government Minister for misconduct in public office offenses” following “further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice.”
Badenoch was not satisfied with Starmer’s defense, recalling that a journalist from the Financial Times had informed Starmer in January 2024 that Mandelson had stayed at Epstein’s house even after the financier’s conviction on child prostitution charges.
Starmer explained there had been a “due diligence” vetting process and security screening, eliciting groans as he said, “What was not known was the depth and extent of the relationship.”
Mandelson is accused of sharing sensitive government information with Epstein over the years, relating to such topics as U.K. tax and financial policy planning. The documents released by the Department of Justice also seem to assert that Mandelson and his now-husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, received tens of thousands of dollars in financial payments from the deceased financier.
The Labour government has promised …
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