Starmer’s denial of Mandelson cover-up rings false

Number 10 has denied that it is covering up Keir Starmer’s role in his appointments of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US and a senior adviser. The paltry document release so far – filtered through the government – contains nothing showing Starmer’s indubitable input into the appointments.

It also denied the appointment was ‘rushed through’ – despite the files proving that Starmer’s National security adviser warned that Mandelson’s ambassador appointment was “weirdly rushed”.

The papers also put beyond any doubt that Starmer personally knew all about Mandelson’s continuing closeness to serial child-rapist Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson remained an ardent fan of Epstein – and passed him sensitive and profitable UK government information – for years after Epstein’s first paedophilia conviction.

Despite this, during a visit to Belfast on Thursday 12 March 2026, the prime minister continued to claim he hadn’t realised Mandelson was close to Epstein.

Clearly, denial is not just a river in Egypt – Starmer’s position is untenable, yet like a bad smell he still lingers.

Featured image via the Canary