London, September 14(HS): United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced mounting pressure after it was revealed that he explicitly questioned Lord Peter Mandelson about his connections to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to appointing him as the UK ambassador to the United States. According to Sources, Starmer posed three pointed questions regarding Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein through an email sent by his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, during the vetting process.

These inquiries followed the initial vetting stage, which had flagged Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein. The questions focused on why Mandelson continued contact with Epstein after his conviction, reports that Mandelson had stayed in one of Epstein’s homes while Epstein was imprisoned, and whether Mandelson was linked to a charity founded by Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Despite these questions, Mandelson’s responses—deemed “economical with the truth” by Downing Street sources—were considered sufficient for appointment, triggering a second, more detailed vetting under the Foreign Office. However, a subsequent Bloomberg report revealing a cache of emails between Mandelson and Epstein led to Mandelson’s abrupt dismissal. The emails showed Mandelson offering supportive messages to Epstein even after his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The controversy has amplified scrutiny over Starmer’s judgment and what more he knew before backing Mandelson’s appointment. Some Labour MPs have publicly and privately questioned the Prime Minister’s leadership amid the scandal.

Mandelson declined to comment but expressed regret about his association with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019. Downing Street has refrained from providing detailed remarks on the situation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar