LONDON: Senior members of the British government on Sunday publicly thrown their support behind Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he faces mounting political pressure and renewed calls to resign over the contentious appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States.
The controversy, which has dogged the government for months, centres on revelations that Mandelson—long associated with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein—was appointed to the high-profile diplomatic post in late 2024 despite reportedly failing to secure the necessary security clearance.
Starmer is expected to appear before Parliament on Monday to clarify the circumstances surrounding the appointment, amid growing scrutiny from opposition parties and former civil servants. The prime minister has maintained that neither he nor senior ministers were informed of Mandelson’s failure to pass vetting procedures, describing the lapse as “unforgivable”.
In response to the fallout, Starmer has sought to shift responsibility onto officials within the Foreign Office, accusing them of allowing the appointment to proceed contrary to security advice. The row escalated further after the dismissal of senior civil servant Olly Robbins earlier this week, a move critics have condemned as an attempt to deflect blame.
Former officials have pushed back strongly, accusing Downing Street of scapegoating the civil service. Meanwhile, opposition figures have intensified calls for accountability, with some demanding the prime minister’s resignation over what they describe as either serious misjudgement or a failure to be transparent with the public.
Despite the backlash, key cabinet members have stood firmly behind Starmer. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated in a BBC interview that the prime minister would never have approved Mandelson’s appointment had he been aware of the security concerns. She emphasised that Starmer’s broader record in office justified his continuation in leadership.
Kendall pointed to the government’s efforts to rebuild ties with the European Union and to limit the UK’s involvement in escalating tensions linked to Iran as examples of sound decision-making. She described the prime minister as “a man of integrity” who had acknowledged the error.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy echoed these sentiments in remarks published by The Guardian, expressing disbelief that critical information had not been shared with ministers at the time of the appointment. Lammy, who served as foreign secretary during Mandelson’s selection, said he had been “shocked and surprised” upon learning the full details.
The issue has been further compounded by Mandelson’s past connections to Epstein, whose death in custody in 2019 came while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Although Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing, his association with Epstein has long been a source of public and political discomfort.
Additional pressure has arisen from an ongoing police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office dating back more than 15 years, during Mandelson’s earlier tenure as a Labour minister. He was arrested in February and later released without charge. Authorities have not filed any formal accusations, and Mandelson continues to reject all claims of criminal conduct.
The episode has added to a series of political challenges for Starmer, whose government has already faced criticism over policy missteps and declining public approval. With Parliament set to scrutinise the matter in the coming days, the prime minister’s handling of the controversy is likely to remain under intense examination.
