Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued an apology for appointing Lord Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington, stating he believed the peer’s “lies” about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Delivering a speech in East Sussex this morning, Sir Keir told victims he was “sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him” whilst insisting the full extent of the peer’s ties to Epstein were unknown when the ambassadorial appointment was made.
The Prime Minister opened his remarks by addressing “some of the issues around the Mandelson case” before offering multiple apologies. “I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you,” he stated.
Sir Keir acknowledged that victims were being “forced to watch this story unfold in public once again” but vowed the government would not allow powerful individuals to evade accountability. “In this country we will not look away, we will not shrug our shoulders and we will not allow the powerful to treat justice as optional,” he declared.
The Prime Minister told the audience that serious allegations and evidence concerning Mandelson’s conduct had emerged in recent days, including details of his relationship with Epstein. Whilst it had been publicly known for some time that Mandelson knew the convicted paedophile, Sir Keir stated: “None of us knew the depth and the darkness of that relationship.”
He emphasized that information which has come to light raised serious questions and was “not known at the time of his appointment” as ambassador to the United States. “Before he was appointed ambassador,” Sir Keir clarified, indicating the revelations post-dated the controversial appointment.
The Prime Minister committed to pursuing truth and upholding the integrity of public life. “We will do everything within our power and the interests of justice to ensure accountability is delivered,” he stated.
Sir Keir’s apology represents a significant admission that the government failed to properly vet Mandelson’s background before appointing him to one of Britain’s most important diplomatic posts. The role of US ambassador carries particular sensitivity given the special relationship between London and Washington.
The Prime Minister’s reference to believing Mandelson’s “lies” suggests the peer actively misrepresented the nature or extent of his connections to Epstein during discussions about the ambassadorial role.
Documents released by US authorities in recent days have revealed correspondence and interactions between Mandelson and Epstein that have prompted fresh scrutiny of their relationship. The disclosures have led to police investigations and political pressure on the government over the appointment.
Sir Keir’s speech attempted to draw a line between what was publicly known about Mandelson’s acquaintance with Epstein and the “depth and darkness” of their ties that has subsequently emerged. However, his acknowledgment of believing “lies” indicates he now accepts he was actively misled rather than simply lacking information.
The government faces questions about its vetting procedures for senior diplomatic appointments and whether sufficient due diligence was conducted before placing Mandelson in the Washington role.
