Prime Minister backs US ambassador despite Conservative demands to publish all messages with convicted paedophile as pressure mounts over 2003 birthday book revelations
Sir Keir Starmer was left scrambling to defend Peter Mandelson at Prime Minister’s Questions after the Conservatives demanded the publication of all messages between the UK’s ambassador to Washington and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Prime Minister faced sustained questioning from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch over revelations that Lord Mandelson had described Epstein as his “best pal” in a 10-page handwritten note contained in a 2003 birthday book compiled by convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. The book was released on Monday by the US House Oversight Committee as part of their investigation into Epstein’s crimes.
Under intense pressure in the Commons, Starmer insisted he had “confidence” in the 71-year-old Labour grandee but struggled to deflect questions about what he knew of the relationship when appointing Mandelson to the prestigious diplomatic post in December. The ambassador, known as the “Prince of Darkness” for his political machinations, only assumed office on 10 February 2025.
Badenoch Goes on the Attack
Mrs Badenoch opened her assault by referencing Poland’s overnight scrambling of NATO jets to intercept Russian drones, stating: “Now more than ever, we need our ambassador to Washington fully focused on this issue and liaising closely with America. Does the Prime Minister have full confidence in Peter Mandelson?”
Starmer immediately condemned Epstein’s crimes before defending his ambassador. Let me start by saying the victims of Epstein are at the forefront of our minds. He was a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women and girls,” the Prime Minister said.
“The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with him; he’s right to do so. I have confidence in him, and he’s playing an important role in the UK-US relationship.”
The Conservative leader pressed further, asking whether Starmer was “aware of this intimate relationship when he appointed Lord Mandelson to be our ambassador in Washington?” The Prime Minister retreated into lawyer-mode, his voice becoming low and monotone as he repeated that “full due process was followed during this appointment, as it is with all ambassadors.
Demands for Document Release
Mrs Badenoch intensified her attack, pointing out that “the victims of Epstein have called for Lord Mandelson to be sacked” and demanding the publication of all government vetting documents. This Government has repeatedly refused to declare Lord Mandelson’s full interests, and as part of the appointment, there will have been extensive Government vetting, including details and timings of Peter Mandelson’s dealings with Jeffrey Epstein,” she said.
The Prime Minister deflected, stating that publication of documents was “subject to a procedure which includes an independent element” and would follow “usual procedures.” This prompted Mrs Badenoch to accuse him of failing to answer questions, declaring: “The Prime Minister cannot answer any questions. That is not the behaviour of someone who has full confidence.”
Political observers noted Starmer’s discomfort throughout the exchange. Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor of the New Statesman, observed: “You can always tell when Starmer feels on the ropes: his voice becomes low and monotone as he switches into lawyer-mode, retreating behind the shield of statements like ‘full due process was followed’.
The Birthday Book Revelations
The controversy centres on a lavish birthday book compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, three years before he was first indicted on sexual abuse charges. Lord Mandelson’s contribution spans 10 pages and includes photographs of him with Epstein, including one showing Mandelson in a bathrobe and another of him in swimming trunks on a balcony.
The handwritten message begins: “Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call ‘mysterious’ parachuted into my life.” It continues with descriptions of waiting “many hours just waiting for him to turn up” and being entertained in “one of his glorious homes.” The note concludes: “But wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal! Happy Birthday, Jeffrey. We love you!!”
The birthday book also allegedly contains messages from former US President Bill Clinton and current President Donald Trump, though Trump has vehemently denied authoring his purported contribution and is suing the Wall Street Journal for defamation over their reporting of it.
Previous Connections and Regrets
Lord Mandelson’s connections to Epstein extend beyond the birthday message. A 2019 JPMorgan report described a “particularly close relationship” between the two men, with Epstein close enough to call Mandelson “Petie.” The report also suggested Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s New York home in June 2009 whilst serving as Gordon Brown’s business secretary, at a time when Epstein was serving an 18-month prison sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
In response to the latest revelations, a spokesperson for Lord Mandelson said he “has long been clear that he very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein.” Speaking to The Sun’s Harry Cole on Wednesday, Mandelson acknowledged: “I have no doubt at all that there’s a lot of traffic, correspondence, exchanges, emails between us. And we know those are going to surface, we know they’re going to come out, we know they’re going to be very embarrassing.”
Earlier this year, when pressed by the Financial Times about his relationship with Epstein, Mandelson responded with a foul-mouthed rant: “I regret even more the hurt he caused to many young women. I’m not going to go into this. It’s an FT obsession and frankly you can all fuck off. OK?”
Political Fallout and Rayner Reference
The PMQs exchange came at a particularly difficult time for Starmer’s government, following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner last Friday over her failure to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on an £800,000 seaside flat in Hove. Rayner admitted underpaying £40,000 in property tax, leading to a major cabinet reshuffle with David Lammy replacing her as deputy prime minister.
In an odd moment during the Mandelson questioning, Starmer himself referenced the Rayner scandal, saying Mrs Badenoch was “finally catching up with the questions that she should have asked last week about the deputy prime minister.” Political commentators noted this was a strange admission that highlighted the government’s current instability.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting attempted damage control, telling LBC: “Our ambassador has been very clear that he deeply regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein. Given what we now know about his horrific crimes, I mean, who would want to be associated with that sexual predator and paedophile? I don’t think we should tar everyone with the same brush and do guilt by association.”
Calls for Action
Conservative MP Andrew Bowie accused Starmer of showing a “severe lack of judgement” and highlighted what he called a “double standard” in the treatment of Lord Mandelson compared to Prince Andrew, who “rightly has been removed from public life” over his Epstein connections.
Labour MP Lola McEvoy admitted there were “questions to be answered” by the ambassador, though she claimed uncertainty about the normal process for publishing vetting documents.
As the controversy continues to engulf one of Labour’s most influential figures, questions remain about how long Lord Mandelson can remain in post and whether further damaging revelations will emerge. The ambassador, who has served in various senior roles including European Trade Commissioner and twice as a Cabinet minister, now finds his long political career overshadowed by his association with one of history’s most notorious criminals.
The Prime Minister’s defence of his ambassador may prove politically costly as public pressure mounts for full transparency about the extent of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein and what the government knew before appointing him to represent Britain in Washington.
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