Starmer urged by Labour MPs to sack Mandelson

Sir Keir Starmer is under growing pressure to sack the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his dealings with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

- DAVID MADDOX ARCHIE MITCHELL KATE DEVLIN

The prime minister has insisted he has “full confidence” in the Labour peer despite calls to sack his controversial pick to lead Britain’s diplomatic efforts in the US, after fresh details emerged of Lord Mandelson’s previous close friendship with the disgraced former banker.

They include claims that Epstein brokered a deal involving Lord Mandelson, the then business secretary, in relation to the sale of a taxpayer-owned business even after Epstein had been convicted of child sex offences. Lord Mandelson is also facing questions over a 50th birthday message to the paedophile, who died in 2019, in which he called him his “best pal”.

And in fresh revelations yesterday evening, it is reported that Lord Mandelson gave Epstein advice as he was facing charges over soliciting a minor. In leaked emails seen by The Sun, he wrote to Epstein in June 2008: “Your friends stay with you and love you.” And before the disgraced businessman was sentenced to 18 months in prison, Lord Mandelson urged him to “fight for early release”.

Angry Labour MPs have joined calls for Britain’s ambassador to the US to go. Breaking ranks, Labour deputy leadership hopeful Bell Ribeiro-Addy called for an investigation by Sir Keir’s ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, saying: “There will be a huge amount of concern, and if the outcome is that he should resign, he should.”

Ian Byrne, who had the Labour whip restored in February after being suspended following a vote on the two-child benefit cap, told The Independent: “MPs get suspended by the party, like I did, for voting against putting children and disabled people into poverty, but calling the world’s most infamous paedophile and child-trafficker your ‘best pal’, amongst other comments, that’s OK! It stinks to high heaven.”