3 h. ago Spotlight falls on Starmer’s political judgment after Mandelson sacking

Decision to end support for US ambassador over Jeffrey Epstein links comes just before Donald Trump state visit Keir Starmer is facing serious questions about his political judgment after he was forced to sack his US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.In the second damaging departure for the government in a week, the prime minister withdrew support for Lord Mandelson over emails to Epstein from 2008 suggesting his sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution should be challenged. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago The Guardian view on Peter Mandelson in Washington: a parable of short

Any association with Jeffrey Epstein was obviously toxic and it reflects poorly on Keir Starmer’s judgment that he didn’t anticipate the riskAs UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson was obviously a risky appointment. There was never any doubt that the former cabinet minister, European commissioner and international business lobbyist would be a skilled operator. The danger came from another of his reliable traits – attracting attention for the wrong reasons.Sure enough, little over six months into the role, Lord Mandelson’s position became untenable. Sir Keir Starmer had stood by him when links to Jeffrey Epstein first resurfaced – extraordinary given the billionaire financier’s status as a convicted paedophile. The position changed with the publication of evidence showing that Lord Mandelson reaffirmed the friendship even after Epstein’s conviction, expressing solidarity and urging him to seek early release.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this ar...

Politics

4 h. ago Mandelson says he feels ‘utterly awful’ about Epstein friendship after Starmer sacking: Latest updates

James Roscoe has taken over from Lord Mandelson as interim ambassador while Downing Street finds a replacement.

Politics

8 h. ago Peter Mandelson sacked as US ambassador over emails sent to Jeffrey Epstein: Live updates and reaction

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments as Peter Mandelson is sacked as US ambassador following new emails detailing his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Politics

9 h. ago Peter Mandelson revelations on Epstein friendship are 'very uncomfortable', says Anas Sarwar

Mandelson is reported to have told Epstein to "fight for early release" shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Events

9 h. ago Voices: The fatal flaw that made ‘Air Miles Mandelson’ crash and burn

The combination of money and immorality in Peter Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein has created a stench for Starmer, writes Sean O’Grady. The question is how long it will hang around

Events

10 h. ago POLL OF THE DAY: Should Lord Mandelson face an inquiry over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein?

The Foreign Affairs Select Committee of MPs are reported to have tried to get Lord Mandelson to appear in Britain to give evidence on his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Politics

11 h. ago Lord Mandelson sacked by Sir Keir Starmer over Epstein friendship after emails revealed

Emails reportedly show the peer sent his support to Epstein as he faced jail for sex offences

Politics

11 h. ago Keir Starmer sacks Lord Mandelson as ambassador to US over Epstein friendship

The New Labour grandee has been withdrawn over emails showing the depth of his relationship with the convicted paedophile.

Politics

11 h. ago Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein revelations

Foreign Office says extent of US ambassador’s friendship with paedophile not disclosed when he was appointedUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.The Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that Mandelson had not disclosed the extent and depth of his friendship with Epstein, a paedophile financier, when he was appointed as the ambassador. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein ties

Foreign Office says extent of US ambassador’s friendship with disgraced financier not disclosed when he was appointedUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.The Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that Mandelson had not disclosed the extent and depth of his friendship with Epstein, a convicted child sex offender, when he was appointed as the ambassador. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Downing Street 'ignored warnings about Peter Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein when Labour grandee was made ambassador'

The senior Labour peer Maurice Glasman privately warned Keir Starmer 's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney against the appointment in January.

Events

24 h. ago Jeffrey Epstein's 'best pal' Lord Mandelson says he might have been murdered in jail

Peter Mandelson, whose left red-faced after the extent of his friendship to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, thinks that his former friend could have been murdered in jail

Events

28 h. ago Mandelson told Epstein: ‘your friends love you’ after 2008 charges, emails show

UK’s ambassador to US urged financier to ‘fight for early release’ after charges of procuring child for prostitutionThe British ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, told Jeffrey Epstein to “fight for early release” and wrote: “your friends stay with you and love you” when the disgraced financier was facing charges of procuring a child for prostitution, according to leaked emails.The emails, first published by the Sun after circulating in Washington DC, will put further pressure on Mandelson after he admitted on Tuesday that more “very embarrassing” details of his friendship with Epstein were likely to emerge but insisted he had never seen any “wrongdoing”. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago ‘Your friends love you,’ Mandelson told Epstein after 2008 charges, emails show

UK’s ambassador to US urged financier to ‘fight for early release’ after charges of procuring child for prostitutionThe British ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, told Jeffrey Epstein to “fight for early release” and wrote: “Your friends stay with you and love you,” when the disgraced financier was facing charges of procuring a child for prostitution, according to leaked emails.The emails, first published by the Sun after circulating in Washington DC, will put further pressure on Lord Mandelson after he admitted on Tuesday that more “very embarrassing” details of his friendship with Epstein were likely to emerge but insisted he had never seen any “wrongdoing”. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Peter Mandelson: Who is the UK ambassador? What did he say about Jeffrey Epstein? What has Keir Starmer said?

Lord Mandelson has been criticised for his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, with new details about their relationship emerging this week.

Politics

32 h. ago Palm Beach parties, property wars and a 'little black book' — the truth about Trump's friendship with Epstein

It’s the scandal the President can’t seem to get away from — so what do we actually know of his relationship with the “terrific guy” who became a convicted paedophile?

Politics

33 h. ago Starmer urged to sack Mandelson amid Epstein business deal revelations

PM says he has confidence in ambassador when questioned in the Commons by Lib Dem and Tory leadersKeir Starmer has been urged to sack Peter Mandelson as the UK’s US ambassador after more details emerged of his close friendship and business dealings with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.The prime minister was pressed on whether he knew that Mandelson, when business secretary in 2010, had reportedly allowed Epstein to help broker the sale of a UK government-owned business to a US bank – months after the financier had been released from jail in relation to his conviction for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. Continue reading...

Economics

34 h. ago Starmer writhes over what he knew when about Lord Mandelson's Jeffrey Epstein links as he says he DOES have confidence in US envoy... despite warnings of more damaging details to come

Britain's ambassador to Washington called the disgraced financier his 'best pal' and sent photos of himself topless and wearing a fluffy white dressing gown, it emerged.

Events

34 h. ago Lord Mandelson admits more 'embarrassing' details of his friendship with Jeffery Epstein will emerge

Lord Mandelson said he ‘never saw any evidence of criminal activity’ and suggested Epstein had not introduced him to women ‘because I'm a gay man’

Politics