Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States has become a deepening crisis for Downing Street, with opposition parties seizing on revelations about his past links to Jeffrey Epstein. The controversy raises fresh questions about the judgment of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his inner circle.
The Conservatives have scheduled an opposition day debate on Wednesday, where they are expected to push for the release of internal documents detailing what Number 10 knew about Mandelson's ties to Epstein when he was given the Washington role. One Conservative frontbencher said Starmer must have either known and not cared, or simply not been curious enough – both damaging conclusions.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage weighed in at a press conference, describing the appointment as 'a grave, grave error of judgment'. While acknowledging Mandelson's networking skills, Farage said questions should also be asked about Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff and a former protege of Mandelson.
Labour MPs have expressed private anger at McSweeney, with some hoping the debate will uncover whether he pushed the appointment. McSweeney was already unpopular with some on the left of the party, seen as factional. Calls for his removal have intensified, especially with poor election results expected in May.
However, changing the team around the leader may only buy time if MPs and voters conclude the problem is Starmer himself. The question of how much longer he can remain as leader has become louder, with the Mandelson scandal providing yet more evidence of what critics say is poor judgment.
