Britain is questioning the judgment of its leaders amid revelations of former ambassador Peter Mandelson’s close ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Published February 5, 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologized to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims for appointing Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the US, despite the diplomat’s close ties to the late sex offender.
“It has been publicly known for some time that Mr Mandelson knew Mr Epstein, but no one knew the depth and darkness of that relationship,” Mr Starmer said in a speech from southern England on Thursday.
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The prime minister had appointed Mandelson as ambassador to the United States in December 2024.
Mr Starmer apologized to the victims, saying he was “sorry”. “I’m sorry for what I did to you. I’m sorry that so many people in power have let you down. I’m sorry that they believed Mr. Mandelson’s lies and appointed him.”
Mr Starmer fired Mr Mandelson in September last year after emails were released showing the late US financier maintained a friendship with Mr Epstein after his 2008 US conviction for sex crimes against minors.
But the prime minister is now facing fresh pressure over the appointment after the US Department of Justice last week released files revealing new details of the close relationship between Mr Mandelson and Mr Epstein.
The files also suggested that Mr. Mandelson leaked government documents to Mr. Epstein and that Mr. Epstein recorded payments to Mr. Mandelson or his then-partner, now her husband.
Mandelson is currently under police investigation for alleged misconduct during his time in office, but has said he has no recollection of receiving any payments and has not commented publicly on the allegations that he leaked documents. He did not respond to messages from media outlets seeking comment.
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Mr Starmer previously said he would publish advice about the scrutiny he received when selecting Mr Mandelson for the role of Washington. But on Thursday, he also said he needed to comply with police requests not to release anything that could jeopardize the investigation.
Mr Starmer’s opponents and even those within his own party said the revelations about Mr Mandelson cast deep doubt on his judgment. Starmer is already deeply unpopular with the British public, according to opinion polls, and some within his own party say his standing is under threat.
“His [Starmer’s] MPs are furious,” Al Jazeera’s Rory Challans reported from London, noting that the situation is “certainly looking very dangerous for Keir Starmer.”
But Challans doesn’t think this will necessarily lead to Starmer resigning – at least not yet.
“For him [Starmer] “For that to happen, key ministers in the government would have to make more noise, and perhaps some would resign and stick their heads over the parapet. We don’t see that happening at the moment,” he said.
Opposition parties will certainly make the best of this scandal, “but if Keir Starmer has to be ousted, it will either be at the hands of his own party or he will have to decide that his time is up,” Challans said.
