Keir Starmer is still facing a number of questions about why he appointed Peter Mandelson to the Washington ambassadorship despite being warned about his close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Amid calls for him to break his silence and go to the House of Commons to face questions, the Conservatives have written to the PM setting out exactly what he must come clean on.
They are also calling for the release of the Mandelson-Esptein files, and for both the Prime Minister and his senior officials to give truthful evidence to parliament about what was known when.
Yesterday Labour minister Peter Kyle stunned onlookers when he argued that appointing Lord Mandelson to the job, despite knowing about his relationship with the notorious paedophile, was “worth the risk”.
The Labour minister insisted the Labour grandee’s “singular talents” meant they felt it was “worth the risk” at the time.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, top Tory Alex Burghart set out the five questions he wants answering by Sir Keir.
These are:
- On Monday, Bloomberg contacted Peter Mandelson with excerpts from the Mandelson/Epstein Files. These were then sent to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Downing Street. Were you aware before Prime Ministers Questions at midday on Wednesday, 10 September of the existence of the emails? Had you been briefed on their contents?
- On Wednesday at 0809, in an interview with Harry Cole, Mandelson admitted that there was ‘a lot of traffic, correspondence changes between us [Mandelson and Epstein] absolutely. And we know those are going to surface’. You then told the House of Commons you had ‘confidence’ in Mandelson and ‘full due process’ was followed. Did you ask your staff at any point prior to appearing in the House of Commons for what more information might surface? Did you receive a briefing ahead of Prime Minister’s Questions regarding Mandelson and Epstein, and covering the Bloomberg emails?
- Ministers have claimed new information came to light. What information did you find out as a result of reading the Bloomberg emails that you did not already know, and which was not already in the original vetting document?
- It is understood that your Chief of Staff was in touch with Mandelson on Tuesday, whilst the Permanent Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth was awaiting a response to official inquiries. When did your Chief of Staff speak with Mandelson this week and what did he discuss with him?
- Will you appear before the House of Commons, including any committee? Will you direct your Chief of Staff and other officials including the Cabinet Secretary and the Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office to give evidence? And will you publish all Mandelson/Epstein files held by the Government, including details of vetting conducted by the Cabinet Office and your Chief of Staff, so there can be full transparency on this crucial matter?
Mr Burghart added: “This scandal has exposed the Prime Minister’s appalling judgement. He ignored warnings about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, forced through his appointment, and is avoiding scrutiny about what he knew. Keir Starmer must now publish the Mandelson/Epstein Files in full, and order his Chief of Staff and senior officials to face questioning.
“While Putin violates NATO airspace and Britain prepares to host the President of the United States, we are saddled with a Prime Minister paralysed by scandal and incapable of leading our country.
“Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed Ambassador. It is time that someone took responsibility for this terrible decision.”