"Keir Starmer is facing serious questions about his political judgment after he was forced to sack his US ambassador Peter Mandelson over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. In the second damaging departure for the government in a week, the prime minister withdrew support for Lord Mandelson over emails to Epstein from 2008 suggesting his sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution should be challenged. The scandal comes at a disastrous time for Starmer ahead of Donald Trump's state visit to the UK next week."
"While No 10 was hoping the sacking would show decisive action by the prime minister, Starmer quickly became the focus of criticism over his decision to appoint Mandelson in spite of warnings about his chequered past and his defence of the US ambassador up until Wednesday."
Keir Starmer sacked US ambassador Peter Mandelson after revelations of Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and emails to Epstein from 2008 suggesting his sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution should be challenged. The departure followed deputy prime minister Angela Rayner's resignation over tax affairs, intensifying government turmoil ahead of Donald Trump's state visit. Starmer faced criticism for appointing Mandelson despite warnings and defending him until the sacking. Reports indicated red flags in the vetting process and a risk assessment by officials. Additional concerns focused on Mandelson's past ties to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and alleged internal favoritism linked to Morgan McSweeney.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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