Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been labelled 'morally bankrupt' following explosive comments made on Thursday evening, where he appeared to blame MI5 for inadequate vetting of disgraced Labour peer Peter Mandelson. Amid a severe political revolt over his handling of the escalating scandal, Starmer criticised the 'vetting carried out independently by the security services' for Mandelson, indicating that the entire process requires urgent review.
Backlash Over Vetting Responsibility
However, this assertion provoked immediate and furious backlash from critics, who highlighted that Sir Keir had already publicly approved and announced Mandelson as the new ambassador to Washington before any in-depth national security vetting was conducted. Crucially, it has been clarified that MI5 did not perform the checks on Mandelson; that responsibility fell to the Cabinet Office, with only limited input from intelligence agencies.
Desperate Bid to Retain Authority
In a desperate attempt to cling to his dwindling authority, the Prime Minister sought to portray himself as a victim of Mandelson's alleged deceit on Thursday. He claimed to have honestly believed Mandelson's assurances that he 'barely knew' Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted paedophile financier. Yet, the suggestion that Sir Keir was oblivious to the true nature of their relationship, and that MI5 should have investigated more thoroughly, only intensified anger among MPs.
They accused him of orchestrating a 'grubby attempt to shift blame' away from his own administration. At the time of Mandelson's appointment last February, substantial public evidence existed detailing his close friendship with Epstein, raising serious questions about the due diligence exercised.
Security Spokesperson's Condemnation
Tory security spokesperson Alicia Kearns delivered a scathing rebuke, stating: 'Keir Starmer exposes again his abject lack of integrity. Blaming our security services when he rail-roaded Mandelson into post, and only afterwards tasked the Cabinet Office to whitewash it, is morally bankrupt.'
She emphasised that Starmer was aware of their ongoing relationship and that Mandelson, while on official duties as deputy prime minister in New York, had stayed at Epstein's home after his conviction. Kearns described criticism of the security service as 'a seriously low blow', adding that to dismiss the known facts demonstrates 'complete contempt for the common sense and morality of the British people'.
Revealing Cabinet Office Report
A two-page Cabinet Office propriety and ethics report, compiled for Sir Keir prior to appointing Mandelson to the US role, disclosed that the peer stayed at Epstein's townhouse in 2009 while the financier was imprisoned. This report, part of preliminary due diligence for all candidates, essentially provided 'a summary of reputational risks' based on publicly accessible information.
It likely included an internal JP Morgan report from 2019, which revealed Epstein 'appears to maintain a particularly close relationship' with Mandelson. Additional reports noted Mandelson attending intimate gatherings at Epstein's Manhattan residence from 2002 onwards. Photos also surfaced showing the pair celebrating a birthday at Epstein's Paris apartment in 2007, by which time Epstein had been arrested, charged, and bailed for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Vetting Process and Follow-Up
Sir Keir's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, subsequently posed a series of questions to Mandelson. Following this, the UK Security Vetting unit, operating under the Cabinet Office, conducted in-depth national security vetting. On Thursday, Sir Keir remarked: 'There was a due diligence exercise that culminated in questions being asked... the answers to those questions were not truthful. There was then security vetting carried out independently by the security services... which gave him clearance for the role. Clearly, both the due diligence and the security vetting need to be looked at again.'
Intelligence Committee and Police Probe
On Thursday night, the intelligence and security committee wrote to the Prime Minister, demanding a swift handover of all unredacted documents pertaining to the appointment. Sir Julian Lewis, former chairman of the committee, commented: 'This looks like an extremely grubby attempt to shift the blame.'
Meanwhile, sources indicated that Scotland Yard's investigation into Mandelson is advancing rapidly. The police force has requested that certain files remain unpublished to avoid prejudicing any potential prosecution for misconduct in public office.
Political Fallout and Secrecy Concerns
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch suggested that Sir Keir will employ 'every trick in the book' to keep the files concealed, asserting: 'He's been got bang to rights, and we need to make sure the truth comes out.' The scandal continues to undermine Starmer's leadership, with rival parties calling for a confidence vote over his handling of the Mandelson affair, highlighting the profound political and ethical ramifications of this ongoing crisis.
