Keir Starmer repeatedly avoided giving a direct answer to questions about Peter Mandelson during a tense and at times unusual session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).
The prime minister declined to confirm whether he had personally spoken to the former Labour peer before appointing him as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.
This comes despite Downing Street previously acknowledging that no such conversation had taken place. Mandelson was later removed from the post after six months, following revelations about the extent of his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
During the Commons exchange, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed Starmer several times to clarify whether the appointment had been made without direct communication between the two men.
Starmer Sidesteps Mandelson Appointment Questions At PMQs
Badenoch asked: “Did the prime minister personally speak to Peter Mandelson about his relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him as our ambassador to Washington?”
In response, Starmer said: “Let me start where I must. This was my mistake in making the appointment, and I’ve apologised to the victims of Epstein, I do so again.
“The matter of process was looked at by the independent adviser on ministerial standards. It’s clear the appointment process wasn’t strong enough, and that’s why I’ve already strengthened it.
“But it was my mistake, and I’ve apologised for it. She should follow suit and apologise for her gross error of judgment in calling for the UK to join the war in Iran without thinking through the consequences.”
Rather than directly addressing the question, the prime minister shifted focus to Badenoch’s foreign policy stance and comments made by Conservative frontbencher Nick Timothy regarding Muslim prayer in public spaces.
Badenoch Repeats Question As Keir Starmer Focuses On Political Counterattacks
When Badenoch pressed the issue again, Starmer replied: “She appointed the shadow justice secretary. He said last night that Muslims praying in public, including the mayor of London, practising his faith are not welcome.
“He described it as an act of domination. Straight from the Islamist playbook. If he was in my team, he’d be gone. It’s utterly appalling. She should denounce his comments and she should sack him.”
Unrelenting, the Conservative leader made a third attempt to secure a clear answer. She said: “I know he doesn’t want to talk about the documents he tried to bury last week, he’s going to try and talk about anything else, but he’s not going to get away with it. I asked him a question, he did not answer.
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“He knew that Mandelson stayed in Epstein’s house after Epstein had been convicted for child prostitution. He knew that. So I will ask him again, did he speak to Peter Mandelson about this before the appointment? Yes or no?”
Starmer again avoided a direct response, saying: “The independent adviser has looked at it, and he said, quote ‘the relevant process for a political appointee was followed’. Now, obviously this is a question of my judgment, but what about her judgment? She wanted to rush into a war with Iran without thinking it through.”
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