Starmer Apologizes to Epstein Victims For Mandelson's Appointment

Keir Starmer’s handling of Peter Mandelson has become an early stress test of his leadership, exposing vulnerabilities in vetting, judgment, and crisis control as Britain’s prime minister confronts the political fallout from newly released U.S. Justice Department files.

The documents deepened scrutiny of Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and triggered a rapid sequence of resignations, investigations, and public apologies that now threaten to destabilize Starmer’s authority inside his own party.

Starmer appointed Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington in December 2024, betting that the veteran Labour figure’s trade experience and political reach would help manage relations with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

That calculation unraveled after files published last week by the U.S. Department of Justice highlighted the extent of Mandelson’s ties to Epstein, including emails suggesting leaked government material and records showing three payments totaling $75,000 between 2003 and 2004 to accounts linked to Mandelson or his partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.

Vetting Failure And Political Exposure

Facing lawmakers in Parliament on Wednesday, Starmer said Peter Mandelson had “repeatedly lied” to his team about his relationship with Epstein, adding that he “regrets appointing him as Ambassador.” Knowing what he knows now, he said, “Mandelson would never have been anywhere near government.”

Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords on Tuesday and, according to the BBC, quit the Labour Party on Feb. 2, saying he did not want to cause further embarrassment. British police are now investigating him for potential misconduct in public office.

Mandelson, 72, is not accused of any sexual offenses and has said he does not recall receiving payments.

The U.S. Justice Department files also describe a friendship that continued from 2005 to 2010, even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor. Bloomberg previously reported that Mandelson offered Epstein moral support and strategic advice during legal troubles, while Epstein later boasted of Mandelson’s influence to JPMorgan executives.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges involving dozens of alleged victims.

“Sorry For Having Believed Mandelson’s Lies”

Starmer has sought to draw a sharp line between Mandelson’s conduct and his own responsibility, while issuing a direct apology to Epstein’s victims. Speaking publicly on Thursday, he said: “I am sorry. 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.”

He added that while Mandelson’s acquaintance with Epstein had been publicly known, none of them knew “the depth and the darkness of that relationship.”

Starmer also said he wants to publish the vetting advice behind Mandelson’s appointment but is constrained by police requests not to prejudice the investigation. He also emphasized that he never met Epstein and faces no accusations of wrongdoing.

Party Strains And Leadership Risk

The episode has intensified pressure from across British politics and within Labour Party itself. Critics argue the appointment reflected poor judgment, especially given Mandelson’s history of resignations from senior posts more than 15 years ago over ethics and money scandals. Labour lawmaker Paula Barker said the prime minister “has a very long way to go to rebuild trust and confidence with the public, and trust and confidence within our party.”

With polls already showing Starmer deeply unpopular, the Mandelson affair has become a focal point for broader concerns about leadership competence, institutional safeguards, and the credibility of Britain’s diplomatic appointments at a moment of heightened scrutiny over integrity in public office.