The Epstein affair has threatened the political future of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following a series of revelations about the ties between Britain's former ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "Starmer's days as prime minister are numbered," members of his party warned The Guardian, with one stating he was not sure he could support the prime minister in a confidence vote.
Today, Starmer was forced to apologize to Epstein's victims during a speech. "I am sorry that I believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him," he said, adding that "no one knew how deep and dark the connection between Mandelson and Epstein was." Already yesterday (Wednesday), during Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament, Starmer admitted he knew about the connection between the two before the appointment, but claimed Mandelson had presented Epstein as someone he barely knew.
When asked whether he would fight for his position if his party tried to oust him, Starmer dodged a direct answer. "Am I frustrated that instead of talking about the government's achievements, everyone is occupied with the improper behavior and fraud of other people? Certainly," he said, adding that he would continue to focus on government work that "affects the lives of millions."
Mandelson, 72, is considered one of the most influential and controversial figures in British politics in recent decades. He served as a minister in Labour governments and resigned twice following various scandals, and later served as the European Union's Trade Commissioner. Starmer appointed him as Britain's ambassador to Washington in February 2025, but fired him already in September, after only seven months in the position, when documents were first published exposing his ties to Epstein.
The latest wave of revelations, stemming from documents published by the US Justice Department under Congressional legislation, exposed correspondence indicating a close relationship between the two. Among other things, the documents show that Mandelson leaked sensitive government documents to Epstein.
The published documents also included a photo of Mandelson in underwear next to a woman in a bathrobe, whose face was obscured by US authorities. Mandelson told the BBC he does not recognize the location or the woman.
The affair now threatens Starmer's future, whose political standing had already been shaky for some time. Yesterday, as mentioned, Starmer admitted to the House of Commons that he knew about the connection between Mandelson and Epstein before the appointment. "The moment he admitted that – it's over," one of them told The Guardian. A former minister from the party said, "This is our worst day so far."
According to The Guardian, Labour members of the House of Commons warned that, "Trust is limited, and I'm not sure I can support the prime minister in a confidence vote." Another added, "We were supposed to be the ones who don't do things like this. The time has come for a new beginning, and the sooner the better."
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also attacked Starmer on Thursday, saying, "Britain is not being governed." According to her, Starmer's position is "clearly indefensible," and she added, "The question is not if he's going, but when." Chris Mason, the BBC's political editor, wrote that "Starmer looks like a prime minister fighting for his future."
Yesterday, Starmer's government narrowly avoided a defeat in a House of Commons vote after the opposition demanded the release of all documents related to Mandelson's appointment. The government tried to limit publication on the grounds that it could harm national security. Ultimately, a compromise was reached whereby the sensitive documents would be transferred for review by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee.
Following the revelations, he resigned from the House of Lords on Tuesday, and London police opened a criminal investigation into him on suspicion of misconduct in public office, an offense that could lead to imprisonment. The European Union is also examining whether he violated rules during his tenure as Trade Commissioner.
