How Mandelson files have once again raised serious questions about Keir Starmer's lack of judgment
Ultimately, politicians stand or fall based on their ability to make the right calls
The questions just keep growing over Keir Starmer's judgment, or rather the lack of it.
The release of the first batch of documents relating to the appointment of the disgraced Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US contains the latest worrying signs about the Prime Minister’s ability to make the right choices, both politically and morally.
A due-diligence document drawn up by the Cabinet Office in December 2024 warned Starmer that appointing Mandelson would come with a “general reputational risk” because of the former Business Secretary’s relationship with the late paedophile and billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein.
‘Particularly close relationship’
The briefing noted Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, but that his relationship with Mandelson “continued across 2009-2011”. It added that Mandelson “reportedly stayed in Epstein's house while he was in jail in June 2009” and that he had agreed to be a “founding citizen” of an ocean conservation group founded by Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for 20 years in 2022 for sex trafficking.
Furthermore, Starmer was told that a 2019 report commissioned by the bank JP Morgan had concluded that Mandelson and Epstein had a “a particularly close relationship” despite the latter’s conviction.
The files also showed that national security adviser Jonathan Powell believed the process for appointing Mandelson was “weirdly rushed”.
READ MORE: Lord Peter Mandelson released on bail after arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Difficult task of dealing with Trump
Doubtless Starmer thought he needed someone with Mandelson’s undoubted political skills to tackle the difficult task of dealing with Donald Trump, a job that was and remains vitally important to the UK’s economy and security.
However, his judgment that this outweighed the concerns raised with him was a serious mistake. In of itself, it does not warrant calls for Starmer to resign.
But it adds to a track record of repeated missteps on a range of unrelated issues, which have forced U-turns and climbdowns over, for example, pensioner’s winter fuel payments, the ‘family farm tax’ and disability benefits.
Ultimately, politicians stand or fall based on their ability to make the right calls. Starmer’s political career is now hanging by a thread that May’s elections are likely to sever.
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