Keir Starmer is facing renewed political pressure after newly released government documents revealed he was warned about potential reputational risks before appointing Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States.
The documents indicate that senior officials raised concerns over Mandelson’s reported links to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein, cautioning that the appointment could create serious reputational damage for the government. The warnings were reportedly included in a due diligence briefing prepared by the Cabinet Office in December 2024 before the diplomatic role was confirmed.
According to the released files, officials noted that Mandelson had maintained “close ties” with Epstein even after the financier’s 2008 conviction for procuring an underage girl. One briefing reportedly stated that Mandelson had stayed at Epstein’s residence while Epstein was in jail and had remained in contact with him during Mandelson’s time as UK business secretary.
Despite these warnings, the appointment went ahead, reportedly with backing from senior advisers including Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and former communications director Matthew Doyle. Doyle was described in the documents as a personal friend of Mandelson.
The controversy deepened after the files revealed that Mandelson later received a taxpayer-funded settlement of £75,000 following his dismissal as ambassador in September. Reports suggest the former diplomat had initially sought more than £500,000, but the government agreed to a lower payout to avoid a lengthy legal dispute.
Further documents show that some senior officials were uneasy about the speed of the appointment process. National security adviser Jonathan Powell reportedly described the decision as “weirdly rushed”, while senior Foreign Office official Philip Barton also expressed reservations.
Other details in the files revealed that Mandelson had arranged a meeting between Epstein and former British prime minister Tony Blair in 2002, introducing the financier as “young and vibrant” and describing him as “safe.”
The documents were released after MPs voted to make them public, following pressure from opposition parties and growing scrutiny over the appointment. However, not all correspondence has been disclosed. Officials confirmed that exchanges between Downing Street and Mandelson remain withheld because they are part of an ongoing police investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.
Starmer has insisted that Mandelson misled Downing Street about the true extent of his relationship with Epstein. Government ministers have defended the settlement payment, arguing that it was agreed to avoid higher legal costs from a prolonged employment tribunal case.
Opposition politicians have strongly criticised the revelations. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, said the documents raise serious questions about Starmer’s judgment. Meanwhile, Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats described the files as “Britain’s Epstein papers” and called on Mandelson to donate the settlement money to charity.
More documents related to the appointment are expected to be released once police confirm that publication will not interfere with their ongoing investigation.
