The end of Keir Starmer's government? Labor is trembling before the election. The Mandelson case is back

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in trouble again over his ambassadorial appointment to Peter Mandelson, who maintained close relations with Jeffrey Epstein. Due to suspicions that Starmer may have misled MPs about what he knew about the case, the entire opposition is demanding his resignation.

Mandelson, one of the most important Labor Party politicians over the last three decades, took up the position of ambassador to the US in February 2025 – a few months after Labor returned to power. He was dismissed from this position only seven months later, when it came to light that his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier who engaged in pimping, lasted longer than previously known. In February this year Mandelson was arrested on suspicions that, as business minister, he passed confidential government information to Epstein years ago.

Since Mandelson's dismissal, questions have been raised about what Starmer knew about his contacts with Epstein and why he made the appointment despite numerous warning signs. The case became loud again on Thursday afternoon, when The Guardian newspaper revealed that Mandelson had not received a security clearance, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ignored this fact and did not inform Starmer about it.

The Prime Minister's office argued on Thursday that Starmer only found out about this fact this week, and he himself declared on Friday that he was furious about it.

“It is inexcusable that I was not informed that (Mandelson) had not been given a security clearance when I assured Parliament that all procedures had been followed. “Not only me, but also no minister was informed about this, and I am absolutely furious about it,” he told reporters.

Late on Thursday evening, the highest-ranking civil servant at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Olly Robbins, was fired from his job, but neither this dismissal nor the prime minister's explanations were enough for the opposition parties. The leaders of the Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the Green Party and the Scottish National Party demanded Starmer's resignation on Friday, arguing that he had either consciously misled MPs (which in British political tradition is a serious offense requiring resignation) or was not in control of what was happening in his government.

The opposition does not have enough seats to force a change of prime minister. However, Labor MPs can do this if they believe that Starmer is becoming a burden for the party. Such voices appear from time to time, and even if the Mandelson case fades away, they will certainly return after the local elections in England and the elections to the parliaments of Scotland and Wales scheduled for early May. Polls indicate that Labor will suffer a severe defeat in all votes. (PAP)

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