British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged on Monday that he made a wrong decision in appointing Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington, saying he would not have done so if he had known that Mandelson had failed security checks.Speaking in the House of Commons, Starmer said the facts about Mandelson’s investigation “should have been shared with me before he took office.” He added, “Had they known I would not have proceeded with the appointment.”Amid the controversy, Starmer has rejected demands to resign. Mandelson was fired in September, after nine months in the role, after new details emerged about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer was warned by his staff that the relationship posed a “reputational risk”. Documents released by the US Justice Department in January included emails that suggested Mendelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein in 2009 after the global financial crisis.The Prime Minister said he was “angry” that he was not told that the thorough investigation process had recommended that Mandelson should not receive a security clearance. He placed the blame on Foreign Office officials, saying that they failed to inform him, even though the department ultimately exonerated Mandelson.MPs expressed disbelief at his explanation. “I know that many members of the House will find these facts unbelievable,” Starmer said. “For this, I can only say that they are right. It requires faith.”Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch strongly criticized Starmer, saying, “He didn’t seem to ask any questions. Why? Because he didn’t want to know.” He later said that he had “thrown his employees and his executives under the bus.”Senior ministers have supported him, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy saying that if Starmer had known about the failed investigation, “he would never have appointed him ambassador.”Following the revelations, Starmer fired the Foreign Office’s top civil servant, Ollie Robbins. However, Robbins’s aides say he will not be able to share sensitive investigation details with the prime minister. Robbins is expected to give his account to the Foreign Affairs Committee.The issue has upset Labor Party members, who are already worried about poor poll ratings. The pressure could increase if the party performs poorly in local and regional elections to be held on May 7.Critics say the controversy highlights wider challenges to Starmer’s leadership since Labour’s election victory in July 2024, as he has struggled with economic growth, public services and the cost of living, as well as a series of policy reversals.British police launched a criminal investigation and arrested Mandelson in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. He is not accused of sexual misconduct.
