"I consider that the documentation that has been made public indicates that the relevant process for a political appointee was followed. In his response on Friday, Sir Laurie said he did not see grounds for investigation."
"The documents released earlier this week showed Sir Keir had been warned Lord Mandelson's relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein posed a 'reputational risk' before he was confirmed as US ambassador. They also included advice sent to the prime minister which said the pair's relationship continued after Epstein's conviction for procuring sex from a minor in 2008."
"Sir Keir has since said he 'made a mistake' in giving the role to Lord Mandelson and apologised to Epstein's victims. The Conservatives claimed there was a 'cover-up' in the release because two sections reserved for comments from Sir Keir about the appointment were blank, raising suspicions that they had been redacted."
The independent adviser on ministerial standards declined to investigate Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding his appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. Documents released showed that proper procedures for political appointees were followed. However, the documents revealed Starmer had been warned that Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein posed a reputational risk before confirmation. The relationship continued after Epstein's 2008 conviction. Starmer subsequently acknowledged making a mistake in the appointment and apologized to Epstein's victims. Conservatives alleged a cover-up due to blank sections in released documents, though these were confirmed as unredacted. The Liberal Democrats called for Starmer to refer himself to investigate potential breaches regarding his parliamentary assurances about due process.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]