UK leader Starmer faces more pressure over Mandelson ambassador appointment
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces growing pressure over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, amid allegations of improper influence and security vetting failures. Lawmakers are set to vote on whether Starmer should be investigated by Parliament’s Privileges Committee, while his former chief of staff testifies on the controversial decision. Mandelson was fired after new revelations about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and an ongoing police investigation into alleged leaks of sensitive information. Starmer denies wrongdoing and blames officials for not disclosing security concerns.
- ▪Peter Mandelson was appointed ambassador to Washington by Keir Starmer but was later fired due to his connections with Jeffrey Epstein and failing security checks.
- ▪Starmer’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned and is testifying before Parliament about the appointment process.
- ▪The opposition Conservative Party is pushing for an investigation by the Privileges Committee, which could result in suspension from Parliament.
- ▪A former top Foreign Office official, Olly Robbins, alleged that Starmer’s staff pressured civil servants to fast-track Mandelson’s appointment.
- ▪Starmer denies pressuring officials and claims he was not informed of security concerns, calling the oversight 'staggering'.
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ABC NewsLiveVideoShowsShopInterest Successfully AddedWe'll notify you here with news aboutTurn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? OffOnStream onUK leader Starmer faces more pressure over Mandelson ambassador appointmentBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing new pressure over the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to WashingtonByJILL LAWLESS Associated PressApril 28, 2026, 12:14 AM1:19Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech in north-west England, Britain, Monday, April 27, 2026. (Temilade Adelaja/Pool Photo via AP)The Associated PressLONDON -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces more heat Tuesday over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, with lawmakers set to vote on whether he should be investigated by a parliamentary standards watchdog over the ill-fated decision.Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney also is due to be testify to a group of legislators probing how Mandelson, a scandal-tainted friend of Jeffrey Epstein, was given the key diplomatic job despite failing security checks.The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee will quiz McSweeney on Tuesday morning, before the whole house debates a demand by the opposition Conservative Party for Parliament’s Privileges Committee to investigate Starmer’s explanations of how Mandelson came to be appointed.Both are potentially dangerous moments for Starmer, who has spent weeks fending off calls to resign over the Mandelson saga. Starmer fired Mandelson in September after new details emerged about the ambassador's friendship with Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.Police opened an investigation into Mandelson in February over allegations he passed on sensitive government information to Epstein when he was a member of the British government in 2009.McSweeney, a protégé of Mandelson who served as Starmer’s top aide, resigned in February, saying he took responsibility for appointing him as ambassador. He is certain to be asked about allegations by Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, that Starmer’s staff pressured officials to rush through the confirmation so Mandelson could be in the post at the start of U.S. President Donald Trump ’s second term.Starmer has denied that anyone in his office put pressure on the civil service.The prime minister fired Robbins earlier this month after the revelation that Mandelson was approved for the job against the recommendation of the government’s security vetting agency. Starmer has called it “staggering” that Foreign Office officials failed to tell him about the security concerns.Critics say Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson in the first place is evidence of bad judgment by a prime minister who has made repeated missteps since he led the center-left Labour Party to a landslide election victory in July 2024.Popular ReadsUS being 'humiliated' by Iran, German chancellor says2 hours ago'Absolute chaos': Gunman charges WH correspondents' dinner checkpointApr 26, 12:52 AMTrump says US Navy attacked and seized Iranian-flagged cargo shipApr 19, 10:21 PMStarmer already defused one potential crisis in February, when some Labour lawmakers urged him to quit over the Mandelson appointment. He could face a new challenge if, as expected, Labour takes a hammering in local and regional elections on May 7, which give voters a chance to pass a midterm verdict on the government.It’s unclear whether enough…
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