British PM Apologizes for Appointment of Ambassador to the US over Epstein Scandal

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer/PHOTO via Instagram @10downingstreet

LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologized for appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, following the scandal of Mandelson's relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein which triggered political pressure and a vote of no confidence.

Starmer appointed Mandelson as ambassador in February 2025. However, in September of the same year, Mandelson was dismissed after the relationship came to light. On February 1, Mandelson also announced his resignation from the Labour Party.

According to the prime minister, Epstein's victims have waited too long for justice.

"I apologize for believing Mandelson's lies and appointing him," Starmer said, quoted by Sputnik, Friday, February 6.

He also apologized to the victims for having to witness the case being reopened to the public, as well as acknowledging the government's failure to hold it accountable.

A number of opposition parties have called for a vote of no confidence in Starmer over the scandal involving Mandelson.

On January 30, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the completion of the publication of Epstein's case documents. With the latest disclosure, the total number of files released now exceeds 3.5 million documents.

The document notes that Mandelson received $75,000 (around Rp1.2 billion) from Epstein in 2003-2004.

In 2008, Mandelson reassured Epstein, who was embroiled in a child prostitution case, by saying "your friends are with you and love you," according to a September 2025 report in tabloid The Sun.

Before Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in prison via a plea bargain, Mandelson urged him to "fight" to be released sooner, the report said.

In a number of letters, Mandelson is also said to have expressed his anger at Epstein's trial in the US and asked Epstein to deal with it "philosophically."