5 h. ago Mandelson’s ‘singular talents’ justified appointment as ambassador, says minister

But ‘depth of relationship’ with Jeffrey Epstein was not known when peer was chosen, insists business secretary

Politics

6 h. ago Mandelson was ‘worth the risk’ as US ambassador, business secretary says

Peter Kyle says ‘singular talents’ of Mandelson were balanced against warnings over links with Jeffrey EpsteinPeter Mandelson had “singular talents” which meant his appointment as US ambassador had been “worth the risks” despite warnings in the vetting process over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the business secretary has said.The dismissal of Mandelson as ambassador after new revelations about his close contact with the financier after he was convicted of child sex offences has caused fury in the Labour party about the slowness of Number 10’s response, as well as a major headache ahead of the US president Donald Trump’s arrival this week for a state visit. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Mandelson seen as ‘worth the risk’ as US ambassador, minister says

Peter Kyle says ‘singular talents’ of Mandelson were balanced against warnings over links with Jeffrey EpsteinPeter Mandelson had “singular talents” which meant his appointment as US ambassador had been seen as “worth the risks” despite warnings in the vetting process over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the business secretary has said.The dismissal of Mandelson as ambassador after new revelations about his close contact with the financier after he was convicted of child sex offences has caused fury in the Labour party about the slowness of Number 10’s response, as well as a major headache ahead of the US president Donald Trump’s arrival this week for a state visit. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Peter Mandelson seen as ‘worth the risk’ as US ambassador, minister says

Peter Kyle says ‘singular talents’ of Mandelson were balanced against warnings over links with Jeffrey EpsteinPeter Mandelson had “singular talents” that meant his appointment as US ambassador had been seen as “worth the risks” despite warnings in the vetting process over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the business secretary has said.The dismissal of Mandelson as ambassador following new revelations about his close contact with Epstein after the financier was convicted of child sex offences has caused fury in the Labour party about the slowness of No 10’s response, as well as a major headache before the US president Donald Trump’s arrival this week for a state visit. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Mandelson should never have been made ambassador, say Virginia Giuffre’s family

The Labour peer was sacked on Thursday after emails were published showing he had sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail.

Politics

6 h. ago Mandelson had ‘quite a record’ as ambassador but Epstein links ‘inexplicable’

Former UK ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch also said vetting for the role is a lengthy and thorough process.

Politics

7 h. ago Mandelson deemed ‘worth the risk’ after checks, Cabinet minister says

The Labour grandee was sacked from his post on Thursday morning.

Politics

7 h. ago Mandelson appointment ‘worth the risk’ despite Epstein ties due to his ‘singular talent’, minister says

Business secretary Peter Kyle claimed that Lord Mandelson’s abilities meant the ‘political consideration’ outweighed the concerns about him

Politics

8 h. ago Virginia Giuffre's family say Mandelson should never have been US ambassador over Epstein ties

Keir Starmer is under pressure over the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador as the family of one of Jeffrey Epstein's victims hit out at the move

Politics

8 h. ago Starmer knew Peter Mandelson had a 'strong relationship' with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein but risked making him US ambassador anyway because of his 'talents', admits Cabinet minister

Peter Kyle said that Lord Mandelson's potential ability to handle President Trump meant it was 'worth the risk' of appointing him.

Politics

13 h. ago Two Scots MPs promoted by Starmer last week 'in Peter Mandelson's inner circle'

Imogen Walker – wife of PM's under-fire chief of staff Morgan McSweeney – was made an influential Commons whip along with colleague Gregor Poynton.

Politics

21 h. ago Mandelson ‘economical with the truth’ about Epstein in answers to No 10

The decision to sack Lord Mandelson with immediate effect was taken on Thursday morning and announced shortly afterwards.

Economics

25 h. ago What is Labour’s new ‘Mainstream’ group and could it help Andy Burnham replace Keir Starmer?

Keir Starmer has been hit by one scandal after another in recent weeks from Angela Rayner to Peter Mandelson - and some Labour party members have warned his time could soon be up

Events

26 h. ago HARRIET HARMAN: 'I never thought it was a good idea to appoint Peter Mandelson as our Ambassador'

Former Labour deputy leader and co-host of the Election Dysfunction podcast Harriet Harman writes for The Mirror after Keir Starmer was forced to sack Peter Mandelson as the UK's envoy to Washington

Politics

30 h. ago Starmer ‘defended Mandelson after No 10 had received Epstein emails’

PM understood not to have seen messages from former ambassador to sex offender when speaking in CommonsKeir Starmer defended Peter Mandelson in the House of Commons two days after details of the damning emails between the former ambassador to the US and Jeffrey Epstein were passed to Downing Street, according to reports.The prime minister sacked Mandelson on Thursday after emails were published revealing that he had told Epstein “your friends stay with you and love you” while the disgraced financier was facing jail for sex offences. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago Crowds gather in London for ‘unite the kingdom’ march featuring Tommy Robinson – UK politics live

March expected to be Britain’s largest far-right rally in decades, and will include speakers from Britain, the US and EuropeKemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of lying about what he knew and when about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.The Conservative party leader posted on X on Saturday:Looks like the prime minister and Labour MPs spent the week lying to the whole country about what they knew regarding Mandelson’s involvement with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.If No 10 had those emails for 48 hours before acting, it means he lied at PMQs and ministers lied again about new additional information. These are yet more errors of judgment.The prime minister has very serious questions to answer. The only way to clear this up is full transparency about who knew what, and when. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Could Peter Mandelson be removed from the House of Lords over Epstein ties?

Some MPs have called for him to be stripped of his peerage or have the Labour whip removed.

Politics

33 h. ago Is Andy Burnham preparing to challenge Keir Starmer? Sitting MP 'is ready to stand down to let Manchester mayor back into Parliament so he can fight to oust PM'

Speculation is building around Andy Burnham as pressure on Sir Keir rises following the departure of former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and US ambassador Lord Mandelson.

Sport

42 h. ago Keir Starmer backed Lord Mandelson during PMQs 'despite No10 being aware of his emails to Jeffrey Epstein'

Lord Mandelson then backed by Sir Keir at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday before he was dramatically sacked on Thursday as Britain's ambassador to the US.

Events

42 h. ago RICHARD PENDLEBURY: How I got caught in the machinery of Lord Mandelson's reckless, insatiable and catastrophic pursuit of wealth... and walked away the winner after a vicious three

A caricature of Peter Mandelson smiles from the wall of my downstairs lavatory. It's from a cartoon by the great Michael Heath, portraying Mandy on the deck of a super-yacht called 'Oligarch 2'.

Events