Starmer directly addressed victims, pledging accountability, as criticism grows over Peter Mandelson’s brief tenure as UK ambassador to Washington
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday apologised to the victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
Starmer has faced intense criticism after newly released documents in the Epstein files suggested that Mandelson, then UK business secretary and a senior government figure, had leaked sensitive government policy discussions to the late financier.
During a visit to the seaside town of Hastings on England’s south coast, Starmer, who removed Mandelson from the ambassadorial post last September over concerns about the depth of his friendship with Epstein, directly addressed the victims, reported Politico.
“I am sorry,” Politico quoted Starmer as saying.
“Sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you, sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him and sorry that even now you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again,” he added.
Starmer said his government will “not allow the powerful to treat justice as optional,” and pledged to do everything in its power to “ensure accountability is delivered.”
His remarks came amid growing anger from some Labour MPs over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador, with critics calling for Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who they see as instrumental to the decision, to be removed from No 10.
Veteran Labour MP Karl Turner told Times Radio that Starmer should “get rid of those advisers who frankly have given terrible advice.”
Turner added that keeping McSweeney in post puts Starmer “up against it in a way that he doesn’t need to be.”
However, government ministers have defended McSweeney’s position.
“The person at fault here is not the prime minister or his team,” Communities Secretary Steve Reed, a close ally of the No. 10 chief of staff, told Sky News.
“It is Peter Mandelson who lied, manipulated and deceived everybody.”
With inputs from agencies
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