In February 2025, Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson as the UK Ambassador to the United States, despite being aware that Mandelson had been associated with Epstein. However, Starmer later told Members of Parliament that he had not realized the extent of their relationship.
In February 2026, Starmer admitted to Parliament that Mandelson had misled the government about the nature of his relationship with Epstein. He said, “I regret appointing him. If I had known what I know today, he would never have been allowed near government.”
On April 20, Starmer returned to Parliament to further explain his decision, insisting that the mistake was not his. However, several MPs dismissed his defense as inadequate.
The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, criticized him, saying: “This shows two things: either the Prime Minister is lying, or he is not competent to lead the country.”
Maurice Glasman, a Labour peer, argued that Starmer should resign over the mistake, stating that public trust could not be restored and that an apology was not sufficient.
He said, “He cannot continue as a trusted Prime Minister. And he cannot simply say, ‘I made a mistake, forgive me.’”
Reports in UK media indicate that as pressure on Starmer intensifies, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner held a private meeting on April 17, reportedly discussing the future of the Labour Party.
Political analyst Tim Bale from Queen Mary University of London told The Washington Post that the April 20 parliamentary session has seriously jeopardized Starmer’s political future.
Bale added that it is unlikely Starmer will remain Prime Minister beyond the summer, and that the Labour Party could suffer heavy losses in the local elections scheduled for May 2026.
