More pain for UK PM as files about Epstein-linked official to be released
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could find himself in an even more dire position than his current one, with a new trove of files about his former ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson – a friend of Jeffrey Epstein – set to be released.
Starmer is facing dire polling numbers, his Labour Party suffered huge losses in the UK’s recent local elections – a result largely attributed to his own unpopularity – and several party rivals are clearly eyeing his job.
Keir Starmer could face further presuure following the release of new files relating to the Jeffrey Epstein-linked former ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson. AP
Today, his government is expected to accept a demand by MPs to release documents related to Mandelson’s appointment to and conduct as US ambassador.
Mandelson was fired after nine months, and fallout from the misjudged appointment has left Starmer fighting for his job.
A first trove of files published in March revealed ministers had been warned Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein exposed the government to “reputational risk”.
It was later disclosed Mandelson had been approved for the ambassador’s job despite failing security checks, a revelation that sparked bitter blame trading between Starmer and senior civil servants who oversaw the security vetting.
The files being released today could run to more than 1000 pages and are expected to include emails and text messages between Mandelson and government ministers and advisers.
Police have asked for some documents to be withheld because they form part of a criminal investigation into Mandelson for alleged misconduct in public office.
Mandelson, 72, was briefly arrested in February by detectives investigating allegations he passed sensitive government information to Epstein when he was a minister in the British government a decade and a half ago.
He has been released without bail conditions as the police investigation continues.
Health Secretary James Murray said the release marked an “unprecedented” level of transparency from the government
The fallout of the appointment of Mandelson has left Starmer fighting for his job. Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP
“It’s right we do that. We have been very clear that the appointment of Mandelson was wrong,” he told Sky News.
Conservative MP Alex Burghart said any attempt to withhold or redact more documents than those requested by police “will be viewed by the House as a contempt of Parliament, and as a cover-up by the British public”.
Starmer fired Mandelson in September 2025 after an earlier release of documents showed he had maintained contact with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sexual offences involving a minor.
Critics say Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson is evidence of bad judgment by a prime minister who has made repeated missteps since he led the centre-left Labour Party to a landslide election victory in July 2024.
Details about Mandelson’s ties to Epstein, revealed in a huge trove of files published by the US Justice Department in January, raised new questions about Starmer’s judgment, driving opponents and some Labour lawmakers to call for the prime minister’s resignation.
Those calls intensified after Labour suffered big losses in local elections last month.
A senior cabinet minister, Wes Streeting, resigned with the intention of challenging Starmer for the Labour leadership.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is running for a seat in parliament in a June 18 special election, and is also expected to challenge Starmer if he wins.
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