Will Starmer Go Down For Mandelson's Sins?
The U.K. bears the brunt of Epstein Files release
Well, this was awkward.
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal is fueling a mutiny within the U.K.’s ruling Labour Party that threatens Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s already shaky hold on power.
Starmer, whose popularity has plummeted to near record lows since his election in 2024, spent the week fending off questions from lawmakers over why he appointed Peter Mandelson, an old friend of the convicted sex offender, to be Britain’s ambassador to Washington. Starmer subsequently fired Mandelson last year when emails were published by the U.S. Justice Department showing Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein lasted much longer than previously known.
This week, however, further releases not only confirmed the depth of the links between the two men but also appeared to show that Mandelson had emailed market-sensitive government documents and confidential information about a pending European debt bailout to the disgraced financier back in 2009—information that could have allowed Epstein to trade on the inside information. British police have said they are investigating whether the emails broke the law.
Mandelson hasn’t publicly commented on the emails but has apologized to Epstein’s victims. He didn’t respond to requests for comment.
A cluster of dissatisfied Labour lawmakers have leapt on the scandal to try to catalyze Starmer’s departure from office as the party trails in the polls, heaping pressure on the Labour leader. On Wednesday, it reached fever pitch after Starmer admitted he named Mandelson to the role in Washington despite knowing that the party grandee had maintained ties with Epstein after he was jailed for sex offenses in 2008.
