PM Starmer Sacks Mandelson As UK’s Ambassador To US Over Epstein Links

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed Peter Mandelson arsenic the UK Ambassador to the United States pursuing revelations astir the extent of his narration with convicted enactment offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a connection issued connected Thursday, the Foreign Office said the determination was taken “in airy of the further accusation successful emails written by Peter Mandelson.”

“The emails amusement that the extent and grade of Peter Mandelson’s narration with Jeffrey Epstein is materially antithetic from that known astatine the clip of his appointment,” the connection read.

“In particular, Peter Mandelson’s proposition that Jeffrey Epstein’s archetypal condemnation was wrongful and should beryllium challenged is caller information. In airy of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes, helium has been withdrawn arsenic Ambassador with contiguous effect.”

The determination came conscionable a time aft Starmer defended Mandelson successful Parliament, telling MPs astatine Prime Minister’s Questions, “I person assurance successful him,” erstwhile pressed astir the appointment.

However, the merchandise of documents by US lawmakers successful caller days intensified scrutiny.

Among them was a missive successful which Mandelson described Epstein arsenic his “best pal,” alongside further correspondence helium admitted could beryllium “embarrassing.”

Mandelson had played a cardinal relation arsenic a diplomatic nexus betwixt Starmer and US president Donald Trump during a delicate signifier successful US-UK relations.

His sacking marks a large setback for Starmer’s overseas argumentation team.

Reaction to the determination has been swift. Conservative person Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of anemic leadership, penning connected X, “Mandelson mightiness person gone but, conscionable arsenic with Angela Rayner, Starmer dithered erstwhile helium needed to beryllium decisive. Time and again helium puts enactment supra country. He has nary backbone and nary convictions. There are present superior questions implicit what Starmer knew and when. We merit to know.”