Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) has said he is "angry" after being forced to sack Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. The Prime Minister told Channel 4 News: "I'm angry to have been put in that position."
The embattled Prime Minister sacked Lord Mandelson last week following the publication of email exchanges with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer had given public backing to Mandelson at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, only to dismiss him the following day.
Timeline of controversial appointment
Starmer told broadcasters that Mandelson went through proper due diligence before his appointment. However, he added: "Had I known then what I know now, I'd have never appointed him."
The Prime Minister said he was not satisfied with Mandelson's responses to questions from officials about his correspondence with Epstein. Emails published by Bloomberg reportedly showed Mandelson telling Epstein to "fight for early release" and saying "I think the world of you" the day before Epstein began his prison sentence in June 2008.
Government departures spark crisis
In a fresh blow for Starmer, senior aide Paul Ovenden has quit the Government after derogatory sexual remarks he made about Diane Abbott in 2017 were published by ITV News. His departure, alongside Mandelson and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, represents the loss of three senior figures within two weeks.
The upheaval within Government, combined with Labour's poor polling position, has led some backbenchers to call for the Prime Minister to resign. When asked whether he would quit if the party felt it necessary, Starmer told Channel 4 News: "No, because I'm absolutely clear what the task is in front of me."
Political reaction and support
Labour MP Andy McDonald said "morale is very low" and urgent change from the leadership is needed. Speaking to PA, the Middlesbrough and Thornaby East MP said: "The events of last week have left people bewildered."
However, David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, insisted Starmer must remain in place. Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to Anfield, Lammy said: "I believe this is the time to stay the course. It's the time for purpose, and it's the time to redouble our efforts on behalf of the British people."
Parliamentary scrutiny ahead
Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, has called for top civil servants to answer questions about Mandelson's appointment. She wants Sir Olly Robbins from the Foreign Office and the head of the Cabinet Office's propriety and ethics team to appear "urgently".
MPs will debate the appointment of Lord Mandelson in the Commons on Tuesday, after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle granted veteran Conservative Sir David Davis an emergency debate. Both the Foreign Office and Cabinet Office are understood to be unavailable to appear before the committee before the Commons goes into recess on Tuesday.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Channel 4 News", "Bloomberg", "ITV News" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
