Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, admitting he believed the Labour peer's lies about his relationship with the convicted sex offender. In a speech in Hastings, Starmer said he was 'angry and frustrated' and understood MPs' concerns about the scandal.
'I am sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed, sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him,' Starmer said. He faced a barrage of questions about his leadership after one of his most turbulent days since entering Downing Street, with Labour MPs threatening rebellion over plans to publish documents related to the appointment.
Starmer initially wanted the country's most senior civil servant to oversee the release of documents but reversed course after a backlash, deciding instead to allow a parliamentary committee to oversee it. He said the police had warned that releasing the documents earlier could prejudice an investigation into Mandelson's communications with Epstein.
Deputy Leader Lucy Powell said that when mistakes are made, it is important to learn from them. Several MPs have called for the sacking of Starmer's senior adviser Morgan McSweeney or for the prime minister's resignation, comparing the situation to the scandal that brought down Boris Johnson.
Starmer also used the speech to promote his 'Pride in Place' scheme, a £5bn investment programme in deprived neighbourhoods, warning that without such investment communities risk fracturing and being exploited by the far right.
