LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced calls Thursday to resign after the government acknowledged that Peter Mandelson, the former ambassador to the United States, was initially denied security clearance for the post before the Foreign Office overruled the vetting process. The disclosure, first reported by the Guardian, directly contradicts Starmer’s repeated public assurances that proper vetting procedures were followed in Mandelson’s appointment.
The revelation deepens the political crisis surrounding Mandelson’s tenure and firing, which followed revelations of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Opposition leaders demanded Starmer’s resignation if it is shown he misled Parliament.
Government’s account
A spokesperson for the government said Starmer was not aware that the Foreign Office had overruled the security vetting process “until earlier this week.” Once informed, the spokesperson said, Starmer “immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why the developed vetting was granted, in order to enact plans to update the House of Commons.”
Starmer had previously told Parliament that due process was followed in the appointment. He has also repeatedly apologized to the British public and to the victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking for what he has described as “Mandelson’s lies” about the extent of their relationship.
The government said it would release a further set of documents related to Mandelson’s appointment after Parliament compelled their disclosure. British documents already released, including some related to the vetting process, confirmed that Starmer chose Mandelson despite receiving warnings that the appointment could expose the government to “reputational risk,” according to the Associated Press.
Opposition demands
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, said Starmer is “definitely in resigning territory.” Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said Starmer “must go” if he misled Parliament and lied to the British public.
Opposition lawmakers said the central question is whether Starmer had misrepresented the vetting process in his public statements.
Background on Mandelson’s appointment and firing
Starmer appointed Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington in late 2024, despite knowing of his prior relationship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019. Mandelson’s trade expertise was considered a key asset in negotiations with the Trump administration over tariffs, and a UK-US trade deal was subsequently reached.
Starmer fired Mandelson in September 2025 following an earlier revelation about his Epstein ties. The crisis escalated further in February 2026, when the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages of Epstein-related documents, which included emails suggesting Mandelson had passed sensitive, potentially market-moving government information to Epstein in 2009, when he was a member of a Labour government.
British police subsequently launched a criminal investigation and searched Mandelson’s two homes in London and western England. Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released on bail the following morning after more than nine hours of questioning. Mandelson has not been charged and has denied doing anything improper.
Days before Mandelson’s arrest, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — formerly known as Prince Andrew and a younger brother of King Charles III — was also arrested on the same charge of misconduct in public office. Like Mandelson, he was a known associate of Epstein. He has also not been charged.