Keir Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risk’ in appointing Mandelson, files show
Global News
Concerns were raised in a document sent to British Prime Minster Keir Starmer in December 2024 when he was considering appointing Peter Mandelson.
Documents released Wednesday by the British government show officials believed there was a “reputational risk” to appointing Peter Mandelson as the U.S. ambassador because of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave Mandelson the job anyway, only to fire him nine months later when new details of the relationship with Epstein emerged. Starmer now faces a political storm over the decision.
Concerns were raised in a document sent to Starmer in December 2024 when he was considering appointing Mandelson, seen as vital to establishing a good relationship with the administration of President Donald Trump.
Advice to the prime minister from the head of the civil service summarized Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein over two decades, noting that “Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s house while he was in jail in June 2009” for sexual offenses involving a minor.
It also spelled out other, unrelated reputational issues over Mandelson’s work in a previous Labour government — when he twice had to resign over financial matters — and his work at Global Counsel, a lobbying firm he co-founded.
Lawmakers have forced Starmer’s government to disclose thousands of files about the decision to name Mandelson to the key diplomatic post at the start of Trump’s second term.
Authorities published the first batch — more than 140 pages of documents — related to those ties on the government website on Wednesday.
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, said the due diligence on Mandelson “did not expose the depth and extent” of his friendship with Epstein, and said Mandelson lied to Starmer about the friendship.
Sustained pressure on oil prices could mean Canadians will pay significantly more at the grocery store by the end of this month, one expert said.
Also on Sunday, the Prime Minister's Office said Carney gathered the Incident Response Group with ministers and senior officials to discuss the ongoing war in Iran.
An investigative group says newly released video “appears to contradict” U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran was responsible for an explosion at an Iranian school.
A survey found a majority of Canadians want Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to lose his claim to the throne, while 51 per cent say the Royal Family is not relevant to them personally.
PST, the Norwegian police security service, called in additional personnel following the incident but has not changed the country's terror threat level.
Israel's military has so far killed about 200 Hezbollah militants, spokesman Nadav Shoshani said in an online briefing. Hezbollah has not published a toll for its fighters.
Canadians are returning home from the Middle East as escalating U.S.-Iran tensions disrupt travel and rattle global energy markets.
Iran's president apologized Saturday for attacks even as its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states. He also rejected Donald Trump's repeated demands for surrender.
The U.S. says it has stuck a new agreement to provide up to US$20 billion in reinsurance coverage to 'restore confidence in maritime trade' amid the Iran war.
Leavitt also said Washington was looking at potential candidates to lead Iran, a day after Trump said that the U.S. must be involved in choosing the next leader of Iran.
Canada has arranged a chartered flight departing from the UAE, which has the highest number of Canadians registered in the region, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said.
Carignan said a meeting is set for early Friday morning to discuss such a proposal among allied militaries and that a recommendation would be presented to the government.
As the Iran conflict jeopardizes global oil and gas supplies, Canada's energy and resource sector may be able to offset some of these impacts and see benefits to the economy.