Peter Mandelson has been sacked as Britain’s ambassador in Washington, in yet another devastating blow for Keir Starmer’s authority.
After the Prime Minister spent PMQs yesterday publicly defending Lord Mandelson, this morning the Foreign Office confirmed he has been removed from the top diplomatic role “with immediate effect”.
A spokesman said: “In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as Ambassador.
“The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.
“In particular Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.
“In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes he has been withdrawn as Ambassador with immediate effect.”
Responding to the breaking news in the chamber, top Tory Neil O’Brien blasted the scandal as “yet another extraordinary error of judgment by this weak Prime Minister.”
“This raises massive questions. It is not just that Peter Mandelson said that Epstein was his ‘best pal’ and that he ‘loved him’; it wasn’t just that he brokered a deal for him while he was business secretary; we now know he was working for Epstein’s early release after he was convicted.
“The simple question is this: is the minister now saying that the Prime Minister did not know about any of this at the point he was appointed?”
The Tories are demanding that the government now publish all documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s vetting.
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