Keir Starmer (Labour) reportedly erupted at his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney amid the government crisis over Lord Peter Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein. The Prime Minister exploded at his right-hand man saying "you are supposed to protect me from things like this!" McSweeney hit back with "that's exactly what I was trying to do!" according to the confrontation details.
Downing Street initially denied the encounter had taken place and tried to claim McSweeney was not in the country at the time, before allegedly backtracking. The row came as the government faced intense scrutiny over its handling of the Mandelson appointment scandal.
Mandelson dismissal crisis
Lord Mandelson was dismissed as UK ambassador to Washington on Thursday after emails surfaced showing he sent supportive messages to Epstein even as the convicted sex offender faced jail. The emails revealed "new information" about "the depth and extent" of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein that was "materially different from that known at the time of his appointment," Downing Street said.
The Prime Minister was given a file about Mandelson's Epstein links by the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team before the appointment. The government had prepared three specific questions based on the intelligence file, demonstrating advance knowledge of potential problems.
Government knew risks beforehand
Mandelson was asked why he continued contact with Epstein after his conviction for sex offences. He was also questioned about reports he stayed in one of the paedophile financier's homes while Epstein was in prison, and whether he was associated with a charity founded by Ghislaine Maxwell that Epstein had backed.
Peter Kyle admitted the government knew about Mandelson's "strong relationship" with Epstein but deemed him "worth the risk" for the crucial Washington posting. Despite knowing about these connections, the government proceeded with the appointment anyway.
Victim family condemnation
Virginia Giuffre family members said Mandelson should "absolutely not" have been appointed, according to the Daily Mail. They questioned why it takes victims to "pull out the skeletons" from high-profile appointments.
The Foreign Office received the damning emails more than 30 hours before publication and 24 hours before Starmer defended the appointment in the Commons, the Daily Mail reports. This timeline raises questions about the government's crisis management and transparency.
Taxpayer compensation concerns
Mandelson could receive six-figure taxpayer-funded compensation for his dismissal due to employment law requirements, the Daily Mail reports. The potential payout adds financial concerns to the political embarrassment surrounding the failed appointment.
Mandelson believes he was truthful about his Epstein association and told Downing Street he had not stayed at Epstein's apartment while the financier was in prison in 2009. However, government sources said Mandelson was "economical with the truth" in his answers to the three questions.
Sources used: "Mail on Sunday", "Express", "Daily Mail", "HuffPost UK", "The i", "BBC" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
