Keir Starmer’s calamity continues with new trove of Mandelson files due to be published
The British PM is bracing for the publication of more than 1000 pages of files about former UK ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson, a friend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
His poll ratings are dismal and rivals are eyeing his job. Now British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces more embarrassment on Monday with the publication of hundreds of pages of files about former UK ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson, a friend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The government is expected to comply with a demand by lawmakers to release documents related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment to, and conduct in, the UK’s most important diplomatic post.
Lord Mandelson was fired after nine months, and fallout from the misjudged appointment has left Sir Keir fighting for his job.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.A first trove of files published in March revealed ministers had been warned that Lord Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein exposed the government to “reputational risk.”
It later was disclosed that Lord Mandelson had been approved for the ambassador’s job despite failing security checks, a revelation that sparked bitter blame-trading between Sir Keir and senior civil servants who oversaw the security vetting.
The files being released Monday could run to more than 1,000 pages and are expected to include emails and text messages between Lord Mandelson and government ministers and advisers.
Police have asked for some documents to be withheld because they form part of a criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson for alleged misconduct in public office. Lord Mandelson, 72, was briefly arrested in February by detectives investigating allegations he passed sensitive government information to Epstein when he was a minister in the British government a decade and a half ago.
He has been released without bail conditions as the police investigation continues.
Health Secretary James Murray said Monday that the release marked an “unprecedented” level of transparency from the government
“It’s right we do that. We have been very clear that the appointment of Mandelson was wrong,” he told Sky News.
Conservative lawmaker Alex Burghart said any attempt to withhold or redact more documents than those requested by police “will be viewed by the House as a contempt of Parliament, and as a cover-up by the British public.”
Sir Keir fired Mandelson in September 2025 after an earlier release of documents showed he had maintained contact with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sexual offences involving a minor.
Critics say Sir Keir’s decision to appoint Lord Mandelson is evidence of bad judgement by a Prime Minister who has made repeated missteps since he led the centre-left Labour Party to a landslide election victory in July 2024.
Details about Lord Mandelson’s ties to Epstein, revealed in a huge trove of files published by the US Department of Justice in January, raised new questions about Sir Keir’s judgement, driving opponents and some Labour lawmakers to call for the Prime Minister’s resignation.
Those calls intensified after Labour suffered big losses in local elections in May. A senior Cabinet minister, Wes Streeting, resigned with the intention of challenging Sir Keir for the Labour leadership. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is running for a seat in Parliament in a June 18 special election, and also is expected to challenge Sir Keir if he wins.
