ANAS Sarwar has defended Keir Starmer's handling of the row over, and subsequent sacking of, Peter Mandelson.
Mandelson was sacked as the UK ambassador to the US on Thursday morning, after details of his relationship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were exposed.
Starmer had spent his time in the Commons during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday defending Mandelson after it was revealed he had called Epstein his “best pal” and wrote emails in support of the billionaire while he was being investigated for paedophilia offences.
It emerged afterwards that Mandelson had coached Epstein through his conviction for soliciting prostitution in 2008, as revealed by The Sun.
Sarwar has now defended the Prime Minister's handling of the matter, arguing he acted swiftly.
He told reporters at Holyrood: "I think the details that came to light were deeply concerning and made me feel very, very uncomfortable.
"I think there are legitimate questions the public want answers to, and I think ultimately the Prime Minister has made the right decision."
Pressed on whether the sacking should have happened quicker, Sarwar went on: "All this unfolded pretty much in 24 hours, so it's happened quite quickly. New information came to light, and I think the Prime Minister is taking action."
Sarwar was grilled further on whether the Prime Minister's judgement was "flaky", given Mandelson (below) had to resign twice from the cabinet under Tony Blair.
"For all the criticisms, I think the positive outcomes for the UK of having a strong relationship between the UK and US, is for all to see."
He added: "He's actually taken swift action."
Following FMQs, John Swinney criticised the Prime Minister's decision to appoint Mandelson, suggesting Starmer should have been more careful.
Asked about the sacking by journalists in the parliament's lobby, he said: "I'm not at all surprised by it.
"The Prime Minister has obviously taken that decision, but he also took another decision, which was to appoint him in the first place, and maybe he should have looked a bit more carefully and exercised his judgement."
The First Minister had been with Mandelson in the Oval Office earlier this week when he discussed the issue of whisky tariffs with Donald Trump.
However, Swinney added he did not feel the sacking would jeopardise any deal, which he said there was a "real chance" of after meeting with the US president.
The announcement of Mandelson's sacking comes after Democrats in Congress released copies of the so-called “birthday book” for Epstein on Monday after the documents were subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee last month.
In the released document, Mandelson described Epstein as an “intelligent, sharp-witted man” who “parachuted” into his life, in a message in a book compiled by convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday.
The Conservatives secured an urgent question in the House of Commons regarding Mandelson's position on Thursday morning.
In response, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told the Commons: “In light of additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as ambassador to the United States.
“The email shows Mr Speaker that the depth and extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.
“In particular, Mr. Speaker, Lord Mandelson’s suggesting that Jeffrey Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information, and in light of that, Mr Speaker, and mindful as we all are, of the victims of Epstein’s appalling crimes, he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”
Doughty would not confirm if Mandelson retained the Labour whip in the House of Lords.
