Keir Starmer: I'd never have appointed Mandelson if I'd known what I know now

"Keir Starmer has broken his silence about sacking Peter Mandelson as US ambassador over the envoy's close friendship with the financier Jeffrey Epstein. Amid mounting questions about his political judgment, Starmer was asked why Lord Mandelson was appointed in the first place, given that the Labour peer's friendship with Epstein had long been public knowledge. Starmer said: Had I known then what I know now, I'd have never appointed him."

"He was aware when he stood up at prime minister's questions on the Wednesday that further revelations were due to be published about Mandelson, because the ambassador had already acknowledged that very embarrassing messages would surface. Starmer knew the Foreign Office had asked Mandelson questions about those emails, before PMQs, but has since insisted he did not know about the content of those emails, or Mandelson's response to the official inquiries until Wednesday night."

"The prime minister only withdrew his support for Mandelson on Thursday morning, over the emails from Mandelson to Epstein that Bloomberg published. They were from 2008. In them Mandelson suggested Epstein's sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution should be challenged and that Epstein should fight for early release, shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison."

Keir Starmer dismissed Peter Mandelson from the US ambassadorship after emails revealed links between Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein and suggestions that Epstein should challenge his sentence. Starmer initially backed Mandelson at prime minister's questions but withdrew support the next morning after Bloomberg published 2008 emails. Starmer knew the Foreign Office had asked Mandelson about emails and that media inquiries were underway, and he said he did not know the emails' content or Mandelson's responses until Wednesday night. The emails show Mandelson suggested challenging Epstein's sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution and seeking early release.

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