By Jonathan Walker, Whitehall Editor
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was told about Mandelson and Epstein (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer was issued a damning official warning about Peter Mandelson’s friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before making the ex-Labour politician Britain’s top diplomat, government documents have revealed. The Prime Minister was warned about a “reputational risk” if he handed the peer the role of ambassador to the US – and was told the ex-minister continued his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein long after the financier was convicted of a child sex offence.It appears to contradict the Prime Minister’s claim that the disgraced peer “lied throughout the process” and the extent of his friendship with Epstein “was not disclosed”. The first tranche of the so-called Mandelson files also revealed that the former ambassador demanded a payout of more than £500,000 after being sacked, and eventually received £75,000, which MPs are now demanding he hand back. Alex Burghart, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “Keir Starmer was plainly aware of the relationship between Mandelson and the world’s most notorious paedophile when he appointed him as US ambassador.
“What’s worse, the Government gave him a payoff of £75,000 despite his resignation in disgrace. No one will be able to trust the Prime Minister’s judgement again.”
