Starmer admits error over Mandelson appointment amid escalating political crisis

LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has admitted he made a “wrong judgment” in appointing Labour politician Peter Mandelson as the UK envoy to Washington, as controversy over the decision continues to intensify.

Addressing Parliament, Starmer said: “At the heart of this, there is also a judgment I made that was wrong. I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson.”

The admission comes amid mounting political pressure over Mandelson’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations surrounding his security clearance process.

Starmer is already facing declining popularity and internal criticism within the Labour Party, with opposition figures calling for his resignation.

The Prime Minister said he was not informed until recently that Mandelson had failed an independent security vetting process. He accused officials at the Foreign Office of withholding critical information from senior government leadership.

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“If I had known… I would not have gone ahead with the appointment,” he told MPs.

The controversy has deepened after revelations that Mandelson was appointed despite failing “developed vetting” clearance, raising questions over accountability within government security procedures.

Starmer has since ordered a review of the vetting system and dismissed a senior Foreign Office official, sparking accusations from former civil servants that a scapegoat is being targeted.

Opposition parties have intensified calls for Starmer to resign, while ministers in his government have defended him, arguing that he acted on incomplete information.

One minister, Douglas Alexander, said the decision to appoint Mandelson was influenced by the belief that a “non-traditional envoy” would be suitable for dealing with the United States at the time.

Mandelson, a long-standing Labour figure and former minister, was previously sacked from his envoy role in 2025 after further scrutiny of his ties to Epstein. He has not been charged with any crime but is under investigation for alleged misconduct in public office.

Public reaction has been sharply divided, with some calling for Starmer’s resignation over the handling of the affair, while others caution against political instability amid ongoing international crises.

The scandal adds further pressure on Starmer ahead of upcoming local elections, where Labour is expected to face a challenging political test.