UK PM Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risk’ in appointing Mandelson

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Associated PressMarch 11, 2026 at 03:50 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Documents released by the British government show that officials warned Prime Minister Keir Starmer of a "reputational risk" associated with appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador due to his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The concerns were raised in December 2024, before Mandelson's appointment at the start of Donald Trump's second term. Authorities have disclosed over 100 pages of documents related to Mandelson's ties to Epstein and other reputational issues, including financial matters and work at a lobbying firm he co-founded. Mandelson had previously misled officials about the extent of his relationship with Epstein. The decision to appoint Mandelson has sparked a political storm, with Starmer facing criticism over his choice for the key diplomatic post. The documents will be published on the government website.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

London 30% Labour government 40% Global Counsel 50% United States 60% Jeffrey Epstein ×270% Donald Trump ×270% United Kingdom ×280% Keir Starmer ×490% Peter Mandelson ×695%

Keywords

reputational risk 90% peter mandelson 80% keir starmer 70% us ambassador 70% political storm 60% jeffrey epstein 60% donald trump 50% uk pm 50% lobbying firm 40%