UK PM Starmer faces ‘blatant dishonesty’ allegations concerning envoy tied to Epstein

(SeaPRwire) –   The prime minister has declined to resign, stating he did not know that Peter Mandelson, an associate of the convicted sex trafficker, had not passed his security vetting

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is encountering renewed demands for his resignation following confirmation that the disgraced former British Ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, was appointed without receiving clearance from security officials.

Mandelson, who served as London’s representative in Washington from February to September 2025, was arrested earlier this year on charges of leaking sensitive British government information to the late convicted sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein.

Reports suggest he maintained a friendship with Epstein even after the financier’s imprisonment in 2008, additionally accepting funds from him.

The Guardian reported on Thursday that Mandelson failed security vetting by the Cabinet Office in 2024; however, the Foreign Office disregarded these recommendations and proceeded to appoint the 72-year-old as ambassador.

Downing Street verified the report but emphasized that Starmer, who had previously assured parliament that “due process” was observed during the envoy’s appointment, was not informed of Mandelson’s security clearance issues.

On Thursday, Olly Robbins, a senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, was dismissed due to the scandal. He has been officially summoned to provide testimony regarding Mandelson’s vetting on Tuesday.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch stated to the BBC that it was “completely preposterous” for the Labour government to assert that Starmer was unaware of the situation.
“This story does not stack up. The prime minister is taking us for fools. All roads lead to a resignation,” she emphasized.

Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, demanded that Starmer “must go” if he indeed misled both parliament and the public.

Starmer is rejecting calls to step down, telling journalists on Friday that he was “absolutely furious” about being kept in the dark regarding Mandelson’s failed vetting, describing the oversight as “staggering” and “unforgivable.” He pledged to address lawmakers on Monday to “set out all the relevant facts in true transparency.”

Nevertheless, the British press seems skeptical of the prime minister’s justifications. On Friday, The Times cautioned about “a new crisis for Starmer, whose premiership almost collapsed over the Mandelson scandal in February.”

The Daily Mail’s headline declared: “Starmer on brink as his Mandelson ‘lies’ are exposed,” whereas the Express demanded that the prime minister “must resign after blatant lies to MPs.” The Telegraph characterized the PM’s stance as “scarcely credible,” concluding that “he cannot survive.”

The Mandelson controversy has already significantly damaged Starmer’s administration, leading to the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, in February after he accepted responsibility for appointing an envoy with known ties to Epstein.

Following McSweeney’s exit, the prime minister’s communications director, Tim Allan, also resigned, stating he was stepping aside to enable Starmer to assemble a “new team.”

The British royal family and Prince Andrew, King Charles III’s younger brother, have also been impacted by the new release release of Epstein documents. Having already been stripped of his titles due to his association with the late sex offender, the ex-prince now faces allegations of “misconduct in public office” for reportedly providing Epstein with sensitive documents.