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| Why did Starmer take the risk of appointing Peter Mandelson? | Why did Starmer take the risk of appointing Peter Mandelson? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sir Keir Starmer and his allies always knew the dangers of appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US. | Sir Keir Starmer and his allies always knew the dangers of appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US. |
| In autumn last year, when Downing Street were mulling over who to send to Washington, the Labour peer's friendship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein - and the fact that it carried on after the billionaire was convicted - was part of the PM's calculation. | In autumn last year, when Downing Street were mulling over who to send to Washington, the Labour peer's friendship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein - and the fact that it carried on after the billionaire was convicted - was part of the PM's calculation. |
| "The Epstein stuff in broad terms was definitely known and discussed in detail before his appointment," said one source. | |
| Another insider said that as part of the Foreign Office vetting process Lord Mandelson was "specifically asked about the association with Epstein" and he was "clear about it". | |
| No 10 argued today that the "depth and extent" of that relationship was "materially different" from what was known last year. | No 10 argued today that the "depth and extent" of that relationship was "materially different" from what was known last year. |
| But back then, pictures of Epstein and Lord Mandelson trying on belts in a clothes shop, and blowing out candles on a birthday cake were in the public domain. | |
| News reports before Lord Mandelson's appointment showed contact between the pair even after Epstein's conviction for the sexual abuse of underage girls. | |
| At the time, we raised these facts in conversations with government officials. | At the time, we raised these facts in conversations with government officials. |
| The responses demonstrated the conflicted attitude many in Labour clearly felt towards a party grandee they saw as both a masterful political operator and a deeply flawed man. | The responses demonstrated the conflicted attitude many in Labour clearly felt towards a party grandee they saw as both a masterful political operator and a deeply flawed man. |
| One party insider sighed and spoke of Lord Mandelson's fascination with power and money. | One party insider sighed and spoke of Lord Mandelson's fascination with power and money. |
| A longtime friend of the peer told me: "Peter has weaknesses. He likes the high life. A lifestyle he can't afford." | A longtime friend of the peer told me: "Peter has weaknesses. He likes the high life. A lifestyle he can't afford." |
| And yet the calculation Keir Starmer made, alongside his top foreign affairs adviser Jonathan Powell and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, was that Lord Mandelson's talents outweighed the risks. | |
| Allies of the outgoing ambassador still suggest it was probably the right decision considering what the PM knew last autumn. | Allies of the outgoing ambassador still suggest it was probably the right decision considering what the PM knew last autumn. |
| "If you look at his success in the role, the reasons for appointing him were vindicated," said a friend of the peer. "He's been good on trade and built a strong relationship with the White House. He's been exemplary." | |
| Former President George W Bush nicknamed Lord Mandelson "Silvertongue". The peer knows Peter Thiel, the right-wing billionaire backer of vice president JD Vance, has met Elon Musk, and holidayed with Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. | |
| Part of the irony of Lord Mandelson's relationship with Epstein is that he shares that very same link with President Trump - proof of a top level if murky network among US elites. | |
| After four decades in politics, Lord Mandelson's career in public life now seems sure to be over. | After four decades in politics, Lord Mandelson's career in public life now seems sure to be over. |
| But questions about the prime minister's judgement remain. | But questions about the prime minister's judgement remain. |
| Last autumn, Sir Keir decided that being friends with a convicted paedophile in the past should not exclude someone from high public office. | Last autumn, Sir Keir decided that being friends with a convicted paedophile in the past should not exclude someone from high public office. |
| This week the volume, scale and excruciating details of the pair's contacts, plus the revelation that the peer encouraged the paedophile to challenge his conviction changed the PMs view. | This week the volume, scale and excruciating details of the pair's contacts, plus the revelation that the peer encouraged the paedophile to challenge his conviction changed the PMs view. |
| Many Labour MPs think their leader should have seen this scandal a mile off. | Many Labour MPs think their leader should have seen this scandal a mile off. |