UK Prime Minister Issues Apology to Epstein Victims Over Controversial Appointment of Former US Envoy

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United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued an apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein following his controversial decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a known associate of Epstein, as the US ambassador in 2024.

Starmer is facing significant backlash, even from members within his own Labour Party, regarding the choice to designate Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington in December 2024. This decision was made despite existing awareness of Mandelson’s connections to the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

This controversy marks the latest challenge for Starmer’s administration, spurred by newly disclosed documents last week revealing further details about the former envoy’s association with Epstein.

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The revelations have cast doubts on Starmer’s decision-making capabilities, prompting some—both inside and outside his ruling center-left Labour Party—to question his ability to continue as prime minister.

“I am sorry,” Starmer said, addressing his apology to Epstein victims who “have seen accountability delayed and too often denied to them”.

“Sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you, sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him,” he added, ahead of delivering a speech on defending British values.

Facing questions about whether he could remain in power, Starmer detailed his government’s priorities, before adding: “I intend to go on doing that vital work”.

The latest revelations

Starmer fired former UK minister and EU trade commissioner Mandelson in September after only seven months as US ambassador, following an earlier release of files about Epstein.

The ex-envoy was one of numerous prominent figures again put in the spotlight after last week’s release of documents associated with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 by suicide while facing sex trafficking charges.

The latest batch released by the US Justice Department included emails appearing to show just how close that relationship was, and also suggested Mandelson had shared government documents with Epstein.

Starmer said on Thursday that Mandelson had repeatedly lied to secure the Washington job and that he had not previously known about the “depth and darkness” of his Epstein friendship.

However, the prime minister confirmed on Wednesday he was aware ties had endured despite the disgraced financier’s 2008 US conviction for soliciting a minor.

MPs forced the government in a vote to submit all documents related to the appointment to parliament’s cross-party Intelligence and Security Committee for disclosure, rather than allowing ministers and officials to choose what to release.

Starmer facing intense backlash

“The mood yesterday was the angriest I think I’ve ever seen Labour MPs in the 16 years that I’ve been in parliament,” Labour MP Karl Turner told Times Radio on Thursday. “We can’t pretend that this is not a crisis situation.”

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said on Thursday Starmer’s position was “clearly untenable”.

Urging Labour MPs to support calls to hold a no-confidence vote in him in parliament — where Labour has a comfortable majority — she said it was “a question of when, not if, he goes”.

Mandelson, 72, who has not publicly commented on the crisis this week, was for decades a pivotal and divisive figure in British politics. He twice resigned from government for alleged misconduct.

The latest revelations prompted his resignation from parliament’s unelected House of Lords earlier this week.

He is also the subject of a police investigation into claims of misconduct in a public office which — if arrested, charged and convicted — could lead to a prison term.

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UK Prime Minister Issues Apology to Epstein Victims Over Controversial Appointment of Former US Envoy

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