British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s political future may be in jeopardy after admitting he nominated Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
In recent days, analysts and Labor MPs have been divided in their predictions about the outcome of the latest political crisis to involve the leader of the Labor Party and head of the British Government, Keir Starmer.
Many people from the Prime Minister’s own party, Labor, have Starmer’s continued tenure in office questioned.
“Keir Starmer’s position is clearly untenable”said, in turn, the leader of the Conservative Party (main opposition force), Kemi Badenochwhich challenged opposing parliamentarians to coordinate with the opposition to pass a motion of censure in the House of Commons (lower house of British parliament).
What triggered this situation?
Starmer was already under pressure at the beginning of the week due to the publication of documents from the Epstein case – accused of multiple crimes of sex trafficking of young women and underage girls -, which revealed that Peter Mandelson forwarded confidential information to the American millionaire while he was Trade Minister in Gordon Brown’s then-British Labor government in 2009.
The situation worsened on Wednesday, when the prime minister admitted in parliament that he knew that Mandelson maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein after he was convicted in 2008 of grooming a 14-year-old girl to have sexual intercourseand who nevertheless approved his appointment as ambassador to the United States.
“He repeatedly lied to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I regret appointing him,” said Keir Starmer, who accused Mandelson of betraying the country and the party.
On the same day, a position of revolt by disgruntled Labor deputies forced the Government to agree to release all “electronic communications and minutes of meetings” involving Mandelson during the seven months he served as ambassador.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the seriousness of the moment by using a speech on Thursday to publicly apologize to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims for having “believed Mandelson’s lies.” about the relationship with the North American pedophile.
“This scandal exposes contradictions between the ethical principles he defends”
Para or political scientist Timothy Heppellprofessor at the University of Leeds, this crisis increased doubts about the competence of the labor leadera respected lawyer who was director of the British Crown Prosecution Service.
“His popularity has always been based on personal integrity and common sense”, he recalled in statements to Lusa, but “for the public and his party, the scandal exposes contradictions between the ethical principles he defends and the decisions you make.”
Given this, Heppell added, “Starmer’s position is now under intense pressure, but his departure is far from inevitable“.
Resignation could be forced by a direct challenge to the leadership from a rival within the party or if sustained internal pressure within the Labor parliamentary group continues to increase.
“Months of uncertain trajectory”
“A change in leadership would face considerable procedural and political obstacles” and a “protracted and risky process”, highlighted Timothy Heppell, who stated that he believed that the Starmer’s voluntary dismissal is the most likely option.
“Anyway, The coming months promise intense scrutiny, heightened risks and an uncertain path for Labor leadershipwithout a clear calendar of how or when the situation can be resolved”, he summarized.
On Tuesday, Peter Mandelson announced his intention to voluntarily leave the House of Lords.
Mandelson was appointed to the upper house of parliament in 2008, but suspended his duties at the end of January 2025, following his appointment as British ambassador to the US – a position from which he was dismissed eight months later, in September, due to revelations about links to Epstein.
The former minister and former European Commissioner (between 2004 and 2008) also left the Labor Party.
