Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US, saying: “None of us knew the depth and darkness of that relationship.”
The UK prime minister is facing fierce criticism from Labour MPs after he admitted he sent Mandelson to Washington last February in spite of knowing that the peer had continued his friendship with Epstein after the disgraced financier had been jailed for child sex crimes.
In an attempt to calm the row, Starmer issued an apology on Thursday, declaring: “I am sorry for what was done to you, sorry so many people in power failed . . . sorry for believing Mandelson’s lies and appointing him.”
Several Labour MPs and peers have broken cover to argue that the deepening row over Mandelson could spell the end of Starmer’s premiership.
With speculation swirling that Starmer could soon face a leadership challenge, the prime minister said in a speech in East Sussex that documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment would show that the former ambassador lied about his relationship with Epstein.
He added he wanted to release the relevant documents “as quickly as possible”, but said the police would not let him release certain information that could risk prejudicing a future investigation or legal process.
Starmer said Mandelson was asked during a vetting process about the nature of his relationship.
Emails published over the weekend by the US Department of Justice show Mandelson passed UK government documents to Epstein, from whom he had previously taken $75,000, while he was a cabinet minister.