LONDON—British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a sweeping apology Thursday to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for his controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, a decision that has triggered the most severe political crisis of his premiership.
The embattled leader addressed Epstein survivors directly, stating: ‘I am sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you, sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him.’ His emotional remarks came amid mounting pressure from within his own Labour Party and the revelation of newly-unsealed court documents detailing Mandelson’s extensive ties to the convicted sex offender.
The documents, released last Friday, exposed intimate email exchanges between Mandelson and Epstein that revealed not only a warm personal friendship but also financial dealings and the sharing of confidential, potentially market-sensitive information nearly two decades ago. This latest disclosure follows Mandelson’s dismissal from the Washington post last September after just seven months, prompted by an earlier release of Epstein-related files.
The scandal has exposed deep fractures within Starmer’s government, with Labour MPs expressing unprecedented anger during parliamentary proceedings. ‘The mood yesterday was the angriest I think I’ve ever seen Labour MPs in the 16 years that I’ve been in parliament,’ confirmed Labour lawmaker Karl Turner. ‘We can’t pretend that this is not a crisis situation.’
Opposition parties have intensified calls for the resignation of Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, a known Mandelson ally who reportedly advocated for the controversial appointment. The prime minister has publicly defended his aide despite the growing backlash.
The political fallout extends to financial markets, with the pound emerging as the worst-performing currency among its peers during Wednesday-to-Thursday trading. The crisis comes at a critical juncture for Labour, which returned to power just 19 months ago after fourteen years in opposition, and now faces challenging by-elections and local elections in the coming months.
Mandelson, 72, has resigned from Parliament’s House of Lords and is currently under police investigation for alleged misconduct in a public office. While he has not publicly commented this week, UK media reports indicate he maintains his innocence and will cooperate with authorities.