I Was Lied To": Starmer Issues Historic Apology to Epstein Victims Over Mandelson Scandal
By
Edmund Owusu
LONDON – In a defining moment for his premiership, Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a stark and personal apology on Thursday to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, admitting he deeply regrets appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.
Facing a deepening political crisis, Starmer addressed the nation to express his remorse for trusting the former Labour peer, who he says "repeatedly lied" about the true extent of his friendship with the disgrace financier.
"Depth and Darkness"
Speaking from southern England, the Prime Minister offered a direct plea for forgiveness to Epstein's victims, stating they have been forced to relive their trauma due to the unfolding scandal.
"I want to say this: I am sorry," Starmer said, visibly impassioned. "Sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you, sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him."
Starmer defended his initial decision to appoint Mandelson in late 2024 by insisting he was deceived during the vetting process. "It had been publicly known for some time that Mandelson knew Epstein, but none of us knew the depth and the darkness of that relationship," he told reporters.
A Premiership in Peril
The apology comes days after a trove of newly released documents exposed a "warm, intimate friendship" between Mandelson and Epstein that continued long after the financier's 2008 conviction. The files reportedly show evidence of private photos, financial transactions totaling $75,000, and the sharing of sensitive government information.
Mandelson, who was sacked from the ambassadorial role in September 2025 after just seven months, is now facing a police investigation into potential misconduct in public office.
While Starmer vowed to "pursue the truth" and remain in office to deliver on his government's agenda, the fallout has been severe. Critics and opposition MPs have labeled his judgment "naive" and are questioning whether he can survive the crisis, with some within his own party expressing fury over the appointment.