Starmer facing fresh questions over Mandelson emails to Epstein – UK politics live

PM under intense pressure to explain what he knew before PMQs last week when he gave the former US ambassador his backingLast night the Conservatives released the text of an open letter sent to Keir Starmer from Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, with five questions about the Peter Mandelson emails to Jeffrey Epstein. Here are those five questions.1. On Monday, Bloomberg contacted Peter Mandelson with excerpts from the Mandelson/Epstein Files. These were then sent to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Downing Street. Were you aware before Prime Ministers Questions at midday on Wednesday, 10 September of the existence of the emails? Had you been briefed on their contents?2. On Wednesday at 0809, in an interview with Harry Cole, Mandelson admitted that there was ‘a lot of traffic, correspondence changes between us [Mandelson and Epstein] absolutely. And we know those are going to surface’. You then told the House of Commons you had ‘confidence’ in Mandelson and ‘full due process’ was followed. Did you ask your staff at any point prior to appearing in the House of Commons for what more information might surface? Did you receive a briefing ahead of Prime Minister’s Questions regarding Mandelson and Epstein, and covering the Bloomberg emails?Starmer is under intense pressure to explain what he knew ahead of PMQs last week about the emails from Peter Mandelson in which Mandelson strongly backed Jeffrey Epstein at the time of his first child sex offence conviction. The Tories have demanded an explanation in response to reports that officials did know full details before PMQs, even though Starmer subsequently justified defending Mandelson on Wednesday before sacking him on Thursday on the grounds that new information (ie, the full details of the emails) only came to light on Wednesday night. This claim has made the Mail splash. Continue reading...

Comments

World news

Florida attorney general says cops should stop enforcing open carry gun ban after court ruling

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Top UK artists urge Starmer to protect their work on eve of Trump visit

Starmer aide’s exit over lewd Abbott jokes deepens crisis as Trump arrives

Andy Burnham weighs return to Westminster after Keir Starmer’s mis-steps

The Mandelson-Epstein saga: what did Keir Starmer know, and when?

Starmer’s fortnight from hell worsens as top aide quits and MPs grow restless

Starmer allies eye deal with Burnham to avoid leadership challenge before election

Starmer ‘on notice’ – as PM’s allies turn on Burnham over leadership ‘plot’

Starmer aide resigns over messages about Diane Abbott

Starmer and Badenoch are handling the far-right march all wrong

Three things Starmer wants from the Trump state visit – and two he won’t get

This is just the beginning of Starmer’s nightmare

Starmer vows Trump state visit will deliver ‘step change’ in relations with US

Tories’ demand to Starmer: Tell us what you knew about Mandelson’s Epstein links

Starmer urged to make ‘populist case’ for workers’ rights reforms

Trump’s UK state visit poses difficult balancing act for Starmer

Starmer has until May to turn things around, say MPs and unions

Britain will ‘never surrender flag’ to far-right protesters, Starmer says

‘Free speech’ row threatens to derail Starmer’s talks with Trump on state visit as government mired in chaos

Starmer given Epstein report on Mandelson before appointment as ambassador

Starmer ‘defended Mandelson after No 10 had received Epstein emails’

World news

Florida attorney general says cops should stop enforcing open carry gun ban after court ruling

Russia shows off conventional and nuclear military might in drills — and raises tensions with NATO

Tyson Foods to eliminate high-fructose corn syrup in brands like Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm

A new Ebola outbreak has been declared. Here’s what we know

Luigi Mangione due in court amid double jeopardy fight in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing

How hands-off investing could have made you six times more than saving this year

‘I fought in Afghanistan but faulty earplugs left me with physical and mental scars’

Birmingham City and the battle of ambition vs tradition

I’m a first-time buyer – why does being self-employed mean I can borrow less?

Canada’s friendly seafood capital with a road trip and vineyards nearby

Sorry book snobs – Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune is a delight

Trump’s Tariffs Start to Bite in Vietnam

ADHD and bipolar patients face medicine delays – even when drugs are in stock

My Man Utd XI to save Amorim’s job – with three major changes

Please stop suggesting a date night – I’d rather you unblock the drain

DWP imposes ‘gagging order’ on disability experts ahead of PIP review

"Not welcome": Rubio says U.S. is deporting visa holders who celebrated Kirk's death

What to know about the US deportations to non-citizen African countries

Photos show how an Indonesian motorbike mechanic became a macaw trainer

Polls open in Malawi’s presidential and parliamentary elections

Trump World’s Deals With the U.A.E.

‘Squid Game’ Star Lee Jung-jae Talks About Korean Fan Culture

President Trump’s State Visit to the UK: What to Know

National park to remove exhibit of famed photograph showing former slave’s scarred back, says report

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Poland asks Nato to impose no-fly zone over Ukraine to stop Putin’s drone incursions

Drills in Belarus and drone incursions into Romania: How the war in Ukraine has already become a European conflict

E-bike battery fire displaces 11 people from Vancouver home

Drought level in the Okanagan increases under new provincial system

Brit tourist 'puts men to shame' in Benidorm with astonishing record break

'Tinder Swindler' con artist arrested in Georgia

Senate clears Trump pick Miran to Fed board ahead of key interest rate vote

Court stops Trump’s attempt to fire Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook

Wellington Bridge closure worries small business owners in west-central Edmonton

Recreate our favourite beauty looks from TIFF 2025

Lethbridge first responders celebrate 1 year of youth initiative

Bridgeland business speaks out about street being ripped up 3 times in a year

Alberta takes teachers’ union to labour board over accusations of false claims

Schwarzenegger decries polarization, criticizes Newsom's gerrymandering effort

Face-to-face with Zelenskyy, his frustration is clear

Zelenskyy makes demand of Trump - and issues warning to NATO

Republicans dare Democrats on avoiding government shutdown

Trump nominee Miran confirmed to Fed ahead of rate decision

Scoop: A group of House Democrats has a steep demand list to stop a shutdown

Republicans scramble to kick Ilhan Omar off committees over her Charlie Kirk comments

SEC "prioritizing" Trump bid to change public company reporting rules

Thousands flagged to face "consequences" for cheering Charlie Kirk's death

Appeals court rules Fed governor Cook can continue to serve

Queer advocacy group asks mayor, council to declare Calgary a sanctuary city

California man steals ambulance from paramedics attending fatal stabbing near high school, say cops

As Charlie Kirk crisscrossed the country, security levels varied from venue to venue

Elon Musk piggybacks Tommy Robinson and brings his troll show to Britain after being banished from the White House

SC lawmaker wants to pull funding from major college over three faculty members’ alleged Charlie Kirk comments

Trump hints at how he could arrest flag burners despite free speech protections

Lone survivor of East Vancouver triple stabbing dies in hospital

Trump deploys U.S. troops to Memphis in ‘replica’ of D.C. crime crackdown

Saskatchewan family demands action after 2-year-long murder investigation

Israel, U.S. show unity as other allies condemn attack on Qatar