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A recent emergency debate regarding the sacking of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US has shed light on several red flags that were reportedly missed or ignored before his appointment. Dame Emily Thornberry, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed concern over Lord Mandelson’s known connections to convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein, indicating that “something went very wrong.” The debate saw criticisms from various MPs, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of evading questions and urged him to apologize to Epstein’s victims.
Sir Keir admitted that he would not have appointed Lord Mandelson had he been aware of the full extent of his relationship with Epstein. The Prime Minister’s decision to dismiss Lord Mandelson came after the release of emails revealing his supportive messages to Epstein in 2008, despite earlier expressing confidence in him in Parliament. An emergency debate was initiated by Conservative MP David Davis, who claimed that the Prime Minister’s reputation suffered as a result of Lord Mandelson’s appointment, questioning the vetting process that took place.
During the discussion, Dame Emily highlighted her inquiries regarding the vetting of Lord Mandelson, receiving responses from Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Cooper implied that her department was not accountable for any oversights in recognizing risks associated with the appointment and confirmed that no concerns were raised with the Foreign Office following a due diligence procedure conducted by the Cabinet Office. The spotlight has now been shifted towards the Cabinet Office and Sir Keir to determine their role in assessing Lord Mandelson’s suitability, with Dame Emily stressing the importance of identifying and preventing such errors in the future. A few Labour MPs have privately and publicly criticized the situation, with questions arising about Sir Keir’s leadership.
The debate also involved criticisms from various political leaders, with some questioning the Prime Minister’s absence and his decision to send a minister in his place. Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey demanded an apology to Epstein’s victims, expressing concern over the appointment of another close associate of Epstein as the British ambassador to the US. Despite Lord Mandelson expressing regret over his friendship with Epstein, the controversy surrounding his appointment continues to attract scrutiny, especially in the lead-up to a state visit by US President Donald Trump. Trump, who had past connections to Epstein, is expected to visit the UK soon, raising further questions about the implications of such associations
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