British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed regret to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday and apologized for appointing Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador, who had a close association with the deceased sex offender.
Starmer acknowledged that he was unaware of the depth of the relationship between Mandelson and Epstein when he appointed him in December 2024, accusing the veteran Labour politician of dishonesty regarding their connections.
“I apologize for the harm done to you, the failures of those in power, and for believing Mandelson’s falsehoods and appointing him. I regret that you are witnessing this public ordeal once again,” Starmer stated.
While Starmer had initially promised to disclose the vetting advice he received when selecting Mandelson for the Washington role, he mentioned on Thursday that he had to comply with a police request not to release any information that could prejudice an ongoing investigation. Allegations have emerged that Mandelson, 72, shared confidential government information with Epstein, who passed away in 2019 following a federal indictment in the U.S.
“We were aware of Mandelson’s association with Epstein for some time, but the extent and nature of that relationship were not fully understood,” Starmer informed journalists.
In response to queries from reporters about his own error, Starmer declared that he did not consider it grounds for resigning as prime minister.
“I acknowledge the anger and frustration,” he remarked. “I share in that sentiment.”
Mandelson is among the many public figures mentioned in recent releases by the U.S. Justice Department related to Epstein investigations. The files include mentions of current President Donald Trump, former president Bill Clinton, and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, either in communication with Epstein or in photographs.
Being featured in the files does not imply illicit conduct, but it has raised questions about associations with Epstein. Mandelson has denied knowledge of the extent of Epstein’s activities, which involved numerous allegations of abuse and trafficking by women. However, his relationship with Epstein persisted beyond the latter’s 2008 conviction in Florida on charges related to prostitution.
Emails from the recent Epstein release suggest that Mandelson sent Epstein a memo in 2009 regarding potential U.K. asset sales and tax alterations, and in 2010 provided advance notice of a European Union decision.
This week, Mandelson resigned from both the Labour Party and the House of Lords.
During a parliamentary session, Labour lawmaker Clive Efford raised concerns about the advice given to the prime minister. Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch of the Conservatives accused the prime minister of evading accountability by using the ongoing police investigation as an excuse for not clarifying the vetting process failure concerning Mandelson.
“They are attempting to shift the blame entirely onto Peter Mandelson. But the responsibility is not solely his,” Badenoch remarked, highlighting the frequent mentions of Nigel Farage from the Reform Party in the Epstein-related files.
Mandelson was appointed to the ambassadorial position in December 2024. He had previously served in various roles in the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown before being granted a peerage in the House of Lords.
Following his dismissal from the ambassadorial role last September, it was revealed in the media that Mandelson had advised Epstein to seek early release when facing charges related to a minor. The ministry at the time considered this advice as “new information.”
Additionally, Bloomberg News reported that a letter purportedly from Mandelson describing Epstein as his “best pal” was included in a birthday book organized by Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Epstein currently serving a prison sentence.
Mandelson expressed deep sympathy for the women affected by Epstein’s actions and his regret for his association with him, referring to Epstein as a “charismatic criminal liar.” Starmer later affirmed his support for Mandelson in Parliament.
When asked about Mandelson’s resignation, Trump expressed disappointment, diverting attention to his own connections to Epstein and criticizing Democrats for using the situation as a distraction from his administration’s achievements.