An emergency debate will happen in parliament immediately over Sir Keir Starmer’s controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as his ambassador to the US.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has agreed to allot three hours for questions on what the federal government, and explicit the prime minister, knew and did not know concerning the depth of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Lord Mandelson was appointed in January 2025 to the UK’s most senior abroad diplomatic place – the ambassador to the US.
He had all the time admitted to having recognized Epstein, however final week the US Congress unveiled the contents of a fiftieth “birthday book” which revealed a a lot nearer relationship.
Among the many tributes to Epstein in it, Lord Mandelson had described him as “my best pal”.
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An image of Epstein and Mandelson collectively within the ‘birthday guide’ launched by the US Congress. Pics: US Home Oversight Committee
Lord Mandelson was faraway from his ambassadorial submit on Thursday, however not earlier than Sir Keir had defended him at PMQs the day earlier than. He has come underneath fireplace over his dealing with of the difficulty.
I am ‘indignant’, says PM
On Monday, in his first remarks concerning the sacking, the embattled prime minister – who earlier this month misplaced his deputy Angela Rayner to a tax affairs scandal – insisted he would have “never appointed” Lord Mandelson if he’d recognized then what he is aware of now.
However questions stay about what precisely the PM – or the vetting group – knew, and the federal government has declined to launch the main points of the process Lord Mandelson underwent earlier than he was appointed.
The Conservatives hope to make use of immediately’s emergency debate to extend strain on the federal government to publish all the knowledge – simply hours earlier than Donald Trump lands within the UK for a state go to.
The US president is himself embroiled in questions on his personal relationship with the disgraced billionaire.
Evaluation: No state go to has had a backdrop fairly like this
Picture:
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has granted the emergency debate. Pic: PA
Sir Keir was additionally hit by the resignation of Quantity 10’s director of technique, Paul Ovenden, on Monday. He stop after it emerged he’d despatched sexually specific messages about impartial MP Diane Abbott.
It is all added as much as a rotten begin to the brand new parliamentary time period for the prime minister, who simply two weeks in the past confidently declared “phase two” of his authorities was now underneath means.
He is dominated out resigning, regardless of discontent on his backbenches and Reform UK’s sustained lead within the polls.
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Former PM Gordon Brown rallied to Sir Keir’s defence
However former prime minister Gordon Brown has come to Sir Keir’s defence.
Mr Brown, the final Labour PM earlier than Sir Keir, mentioned he did not need to criticise his judgement as a result of he faces “very difficult decisions”.
