Keir Starmer ‘no longer in control’ as MPs again launch of bombshell Mandelson paperwork | Politics | News | EUROtoday

MPs have backed the discharge of paperwork referring to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. The transfer comes after Sir Keir Starmer made a climbdown on his unique plans for the highest civil servant to resolve which papers couldn’t be shared on nationwide safety grounds or as a result of they may prejudice worldwide relations.

The embattled Prime Minister accepted that the choice might as an alternative be made by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) within the face of a revolt by Labour MPs together with Angela Rayner. The Tories have led the parliamentary push for paperwork to be disclosed after recent revelations about Lord Mandelson’s affiliation with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein emerged.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations happened within the Commons to achieve a compromise to keep away from a Labour insurrection.

A Conservative spokesman mentioned: “Kemi forced Starmer to admit he’d known Mandelson was still hanging out with Epstein after the child sex conviction, and No 10 went ahead and appointed Mandelson anyway.

“You might really feel within the Commons that was the second Labour MPs stopped backing the Prime Minister. The Government have now needed to cave to Kemi’s demand for all paperwork to go to the ISC. Starmer is now not in management, Kemi is asking the photographs.”

Sir Keir earlier told the Commons he knew about Lord Mandelson’s ongoing friendship with Epstein when he appointed him to the plum Washington role.

But he said the peer “lied repeatedly” in regards to the extent of the connection.

Lord Mandelson, a political appointment relatively than a profession diplomat, was sacked from his US place in September final 12 months over his hyperlinks with Epstein, who died in 2019.

His continued affiliation with the financier following a 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor had been extensively reported earlier than his return to the political entrance line, when he was named as ambassador in 2024.

But paperwork launched as a part of the US Department of Justice’s Epstein Files raised new considerations in current days.