United Kingdom

Epstein files, Starmer was informed of risks on Mandelson as ambassador to the US

This is confirmed by one of the documents that the UK government was forced to publish as of today on the exchange of messages and reports

by Nicol Degli Innocenti

11 March 2026

Il primo ministro britannico Keir Starmer lascia il numero 10 di Downing Street per partecipare alla sessione settimanale delle domande al primo ministro in parlamento a Londra, mercoledì 11 marzo 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

LONDON - Keir Starmer again in the eye of the storm because of Peter Mandelson. The publication of a first part of the documents relating to the appointment of the former Labour minister as ambassador to Washington shows that the British prime minister had been warned of the 'reputational risk' due to Mandelson's close ties with American financier Jeffrey Epstein. Not only that: Starmer had also been informed that the friendship between the two had continued even after the billionaire's conviction for luring underage girls, and that Mandelson had been a guest in his New York home in 2009 while Epstein was in prison.

Appointment in December 2024

In spite of these warnings, Starmer had decided in December 2024 to appoint Mandelson as ambassador to the US, the most prestigious post in British diplomacy, a decision that turned out to be disastrous. The PM had calculated that the New Labour architect's long experience and knowledge, and in particular his expertise in trade negotiations, since he had been EU Trade Commissioner, would be invaluable in maintaining good relations with the US administration and reaching London-friendly bilateral agreements.

After the first revelations in the secret archive, or Epstein Files, published by the US Justice Department about the close relationship between the financier and Mandelson, Starmer had removed him from office in September 2025. The PM had apologised for appointing him ambassador, but insisted he had not been aware of the facts and had believed the 'lies' the Labour politician had told him in order to get the coveted post - namely that he had severed relations with Epstein after his conviction and that he knew nothing about his sexual perversions.

New documents published: all alarms were ignored

'All due diligence has been done,' Starmer stated at the time. The documents published today show that Mandelson's appointment was accelerated at the behest of Downing Street and that all alarm bells were ignored.
"After Epstein had first been convicted of soliciting a minor in 2008, their relationship continued between 2009 and 2011, beginning when Mandelson was Minister for Business and continuing after the end of the Labour government," reads a document handed over to Starmer in November 2024, which also points out that "Mandelson was a guest in Epstein's home when he was in prison in June 2009. Years later Epstein was then arrested a second time for paedophilia and trafficking in girls and committed suicide in prison in 2019.

The documents also show that Jonathan Powell, national security advisor and a Labour Party veteran from Tony Blair's time, had expressed serious reservations about Mandelson's appointment, writing that it had been 'strangely hasty'.

The revelation about the severance package

Also creating a stir in Westminster was the revelation that Mandelson had demanded over half a million pounds as severance pay after being sacked, but after lengthy negotiations had been forced to accept 'only' £75,000.Darren Jones, a minister in the Cabinet Office and Starmer's right-hand man, who had the thankless task of answering opposition questions in Parliament today, said that Mandelson "didn't deserve a single pound" but that paying him off was "the quickest way to get rid of him" and added that "he should give the money to charity".

Representatives from all parties criticised Starmer today, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski was the first to call for the premier's resignation. "Starmer knew exactly what choice he was making when he appointed (Mandelson)," he said, "He has to go.

The ongoing investigation

The documents released today are only a first part of the papers relating to Mandelson's appointment. Perhaps the most significant part of the correspondence cannot be released at the request of the Metropolitan Police, which is investigating the former ambassador. Mandelson, who was arrested and later released on bail, is accused of abuse of office for providing confidential and market-sensitive information to Epstein. The EU has also opened an investigation because Mandelson in 2009, when he was deputy prime minister, had also informed the financier in advance of the EU's EUR 500 billion bailout plan during the big financial crisis.

Among the documents still under lock and key are Mandelson's answers to the three questions he was asked in late 2024: whether he had continued to maintain ties with Epstein after his first conviction in 2008; whether he had been a guest in the financier's home while in prison; and his ties to a charity founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, who is in prison for assisting Epstein in circling and abusing minors. These latter documents will prove whether or not Mandelson actually lied to the premier.