Article by Viory
The UK government finally released the first tranche of files related to the PM’s former US ambassador Peter Mandelson, following the row over the diplomat’s ties disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
According to the latest ‘Mandelson files’, the PM was warned about the ‘reputational risk’ of appointing Mandelson – and about Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein which lasted until at least 2011, after the disgraced financier’s conviction for soliciting a minor.
Starmer’s security adviser Jonathan Powell also claimed the appointment had been ‘weirdly rushed’ – while the PM himself was said to have been warned that he “could be more exposed if anything goes wrong”. It was also revealed that the former ambassador was paid £75,000 when he was fired, but had demanded at least £500,000.
Mandelson has strongly denied wrongdoing, while inclusion in the Epstein files in no way implies criminality.
The opposition forced the government to publish them in a vote last month.
Mandelson was arrested last month amid claims he passed sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary (2008-2010) – and then released on bail. He has previously strongly denied wrongdoing.
The former ambassador, whose media savvy powers in government in the 90s and 2000s led to him being dubbed the ‘Prince of Darkness’ – and later the ‘Dark Lord’ – was sacked by the PM in September last year when his connections to Epstein came back into the spotlight.
Images from the Epstein files show Mandelson with the late paedophile financier. They include those of him in his underwear in what was reported in the UK media to be Epstein’s Paris flat – alongside a woman in a white dressing gown. Inclusion in the Epstein files does not imply wrongdoing and Mandelson has always strongly denied it.
Video also includes Starmer on the ropes over the appointment in recent weeks. “Mandelson betrayed our country, our Parliament and my party. He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near Government,” the PM is heard saying.
Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch claimed Starmer’s government was full of ‘hypocrites and paedophile apologists’, while Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “to appoint one paedophile supporter cannot be excused as misfortune. To appoint two shows a catastrophic lack of judgement.” He was also referring to a separate scandal involving Starmer’s former comms director.
Scottish National Party leader in Westminster Stephen Flynn called the PM “the most gullible former Director of Public Prosecutions in history”. Reform UK’s Nigel Farage is seen calling the scandal ‘bigger than Profumo’. The Profumo Affair in the 1960s saw War Secretary John Profumo quit after admitting to an affair with model Christine Keeler – and lie about it in the House of Commons. It was claimed she was also involved with a Soviet naval attache.
Article by Viory
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