UK PM said he would not have appointed Mandelson as US ambassador had he known the extent of the envoy’s relationship with the sex offender
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted on Monday that he would never have appointed Peter Mandelson as his ambassador in Washington if he had known the full extent of the diplomat’s relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer, whose popularity has tanked since taking office in July 2024, has endured several days of negative front pages in UK newspapers with some even suggesting he is on borrowed time.
“Had I known then what I know now, I’d have never appointed him,” said Starmer, who told broadcasters that Mandelson had been properly vetted before his appointment.
Downing Street has also faced numerous questions over why Starmer said he had “confidence” in Mandelson last week when the then-ambassador had already acknowledged that “very embarrassing” messages were about to be released.
