Starmer faces fresh questions about his judgment over the appointment despite being warned of Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
1-MIN READ1-MIN ListendpaPublished: 12:38am, 13 Mar 2026British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken responsibility for his “mistake” in sending Peter Mandelson to Washington as ambassador, as Downing Street denied there was a “cover-up” in the release of files related to the appointment.The prime minister is facing fresh questions about his judgment in giving Mandelson the ambassadorship despite being warned of a “general reputational risk” because of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.In his first public appearance since the publication of the documents, Starmer told reporters in Northern Ireland: “The release of the information shows what was known.”
“But that doesn’t take away from the fact that it was me that made a mistake, and it’s me that makes the apology to the victims of Epstein, and I do that.”
The absence of Starmer’s comments in the trove of government papers released on Wednesday has come under the spotlight, sparking questions over whether he followed procedures.
