Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador was deemed 'worth the risks' despite warnings over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, business secretary Peter Kyle has said. The comments come after Lord Mandelson's dismissal from the role following new revelations about his contact with the convicted sex offender.
Peter Kyle defended the decision, stating that Mandelson's 'singular talents' were crucial for navigating a 'perilous' period in US-UK relations. He said the Cabinet Office conducted an independent inquiry, and the prime minister was presented with information already in the public domain. However, Kyle acknowledged that newly emerged emails, not previously known, changed the situation.
The family of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre criticised the appointment, with her brother Sky Roberts saying Mandelson should never have been given the role. Giuffre's sister-in-law Amanda Roberts questioned why it took 'us to pull out the skeletons' for accountability. The Conservative party has demanded answers from Keir Starmer about what Downing Street knew and when.
The newly revealed emails show Mandelson telling Epstein to 'fight for early release' while Epstein was facing an 18-month sentence. No 10 is facing scrutiny over the timing of its response, with the full extent of the correspondence yet to be disclosed.
