Sir Keir Starmer has said he has full confidence in Lord Mandelson after the British ambassador to the US admitted new revelations about his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein were “embarrassing”.
At Prime Minister's Questions today, Kemi Badenoch pressed Sir Keir on whether Lord Mandelson was the right man to be the UK’s most senior diplomat in Washington.
“Now more than ever we need our ambassador to Washington fully focused on this issue and liaising closely with America”, the leader of the Conservative Party said.
“Does the Prime Minister have full confidence in Peter Mandelson?"
Sir Keir replied: "Let me start by saying the victims of Epstein are at the forefront of our minds.
“He was a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women and girls.
“The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with him. He is right to do so. I have confidence in him, and he is playing an important role in the UK-US relationship."
Lord Mandelson has admitted his friendship with the Epstein went on “for far longer” than it should have done.
He is facing criticism after it was revealed he sent a gushing 10 page birthday letter to the disgraced financier in 2003 where he declared Epstein his “best pal”.
The under-fire US Ambassador described the relationship as “albatross around his neck” and said he had a “deep regret” at remaining in contact with the sex offender after he was convicted for underage sexual assault crimes in 2008.
In an interview on Harry Cole Saves The West, Lord Mandelson said that he "never saw any evidence of criminal activity" and was not offered introductions to women by the late banker, adding "perhaps it's because I'm a gay man".
It comes amid reports that Epstein brokered a £1 billion deal with Lord Mandelson - then Business Secretary - over the sale of a UK taxpayer-owned banking business after he was convicted of child sex offences.
Emails show the agreement was negotiated just months after Epstein was released from prison for his crimes.
Sempra Commodities, a joint venture between the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Sempra Energy, was sold to US finance corporation JP Morgan in a deal on which Epstein gave advice to both Lord Mandelson and to the company’s senior executive Jes Staley, the Telegraph reported.
Publishing documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment as British ambassador to the US and his relationship with Epstein "will be subject to the usual procedures", Sir Keir added during PMQs.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the Commons: "I think it is embarrassing that the Prime Minister is still saying that he has confidence in a man who was brokering deals with convicted child sex offenders while sitting in government.
“That is a disgrace. This Government has repeatedly - repeatedly - refused to declare Lord Mandelson's full interests and, as part of the appointment, there will have been extensive Government vetting, including details and timings of Peter Mandelson's dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.”
Sir Keir Starmer insisted "due process was followed" during the appointment of the British ambassador.
Ms Badenoch said: "This is interesting, he says the ambassador has expressed full regret, but the victims of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have called for Lord Mandelson to be sacked.
"And just so the House is aware, in 2019 Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of child prostitution and sex trafficking that took place between 2002 and 2005 that is the precise period which Lord Mandelson called Jeffrey Epstein his best pal.
"Was the Prime Minister aware of this intimate relationship when he appointed Lord Mandelson to be our ambassador in Washington?"
Sir Keir replied: "As she and the House would expect, full due process was followed during this appointment, as it is with all ambassadors. The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret, he is right to do so, he's now playing an important part in the US-UK relationship."
