Politics LIVE: Crisis for Starmer as Labour MPs demand resignation of Peter Mandelson
Sir Keir Starmer faces another crisis as Labour MPs demand he sacks Lord Mandelson and Tory MPs demand to know why he appointed the friend of child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
Questions will be asked in Parliament today after revelations about Lord Mandelson's links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Lord Mandelson sent paedophile Epstein a series of supportive messages even after he was accused of child sex offences, it has emerged.
The developmemt, coming just hours after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared he had confidence in Lord Mandelson, sparked furious Tory demands for the Labour grandee to resign as Britain’s ambassador to the US - and cast doubt on Sir Keir’s judgment.
Lord Mandelson, a former Labour Cabinet Minister who was hand-picked by Sir Keir for the diplomatic role, wrote to US financier Epstein while he was facing charges in June 2008 and said: “Your friends stay with you and love you.”
The FBI had opened an investigation into Epstein in 2006 and the US Attorney’s Office prepared an indictment in June 2007. On June 30 2008, Epstein appeared in court to plead guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution, and solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18.
Nigel Farage has said he doesn't believe Peter Mandelson can survive.
Blasting Keir Starmer's "dreadful" judgment, the Reform leader told LBC: "The fact is, we can all make mistakes, misjudge people and have unwise friendships"
"But the fact is after the conviction, he was still trying to help him while he was Business Secretary with a business deal is just too much"
Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, has said there is “widespread revulsion” in the Labour Party amid growing pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Lord Peter Mandelson.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “He should go immediately, his position is completely and utterly untenable and him staying on in post is causing the Government and the Labour Party further damage.
“I’m afraid if he doesn’t do the right thing and resign today then the Prime Minister should sack him.”
Mr McDonald, asked how other Labour MPs are feeling, said: “It’s 100%, people have got their heads in their hands over this and I haven’t spoken to anybody who is offering any glimmer of support for Peter Mandelson.
“It is widespread revulsion that we, by association, being in the same party, are being brought under the microscope for something that he has done."
A Government minister will be forced to answer questions in the Commons about Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has granted an urgent question to Tory Neil O’Brien.
Mr O’Brien said: “The Speaker has granted me an urgent question in Parliament on Peter Mandelson this morning. Starmer gave no answers yesterday, let’s try again.”
Lord Peter Mandelson’s messages to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein were “sickening”, a Government minister said as the position of Britain’s ambassador to the US appeared increasingly precarious.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing increased pressure to sack Lord Mandelson after leaked emails showed the New Labour grandee sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences.
Lord Mandelson is reported to have told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and told him, “I think the world of you” the day before he began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
Home Office minister Mike Tapp told LBC Radio he had read the emails – obtained by The Sun and Bloomberg – and found them “really disturbing and sickening”.
Mr Tapp told BBC Breakfast the emails made him “shudder”.
Peter Mandelson started out as a Labour communications director in 1985 and was first elected as an MP in 1992. He served in the cabinets of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
The Labour grandee resigned twice from cabinet, in 1998 and 2001, became Britain’s European commissioner between 2004 and 2008, and then made an astonishing return in 2008 under Mr Brown, who made him a peer to become business secretary.
A linchpin of the New Labour project from its birth in the early 1990s, Lord Mandelsonwitnessed and participated in the feuds that dominated much of its 13 years in power.
His ability to manipulate the levers of power from the shadows earned him monikers such as “the Prince of Darkness” and “the Dark Lord”.
express.co.uk
