Starmer ignored Mandelson’s flaws – PM’s poor judgement is now exposed | Politics | News

Just when you thought Labour couldn’t get any more sleazy, allegations emerge that Peter Mandelson – Sir Keir Starmer’s now-sacked US ambassador – passed confidential government information to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2009 when he was business secretary. Given Mandelson’s chequered record, these latest claims expose once again the PM’s woeful judgment in sending him to Washington after a series of previous embarrassments. 

Again and again, Labour ignored the trail of grubby deals that followed Mandelson – once dubbed the Prince of Darkness – like a bad penny. From a dubious home loan, to securing a foreign plutocrat’s passport, to preening himself aboard the yachts of billionaire Russian oligarchs, and now being snapped in his underpants in Epstein’s apartment, Mandelson has always been drawn to very wealthy people.

Ironically, what made him a shrewd choice as US ambassador to Donald Trump, a complete lack of Left-wing virtue signalling, meant he hid in plain sight from the Labour leadership under Blair, Brown and, most recently, Starmer. So desperate were they for a pragmatic if devious enabler, they constantly overlooked his flaws. It says a lot about the hopeless Labour Party that they have so few realistic politicians to choose from their ranks of ideologically-blinded apparatchiks.

Now it appears that not only was Mandelson a Machiavellian moneygrabber, he may also have passed privileged, market-sensitive government information to his “best pal” Epstein. There are even rumours the financier might have worked with the KGB to collect compromising information on influential politicians and businessmen. What is clear is that he gathered information on powerful friends that might one day be helpful for him.

The information Mandelson is alleged to have shared with Epstein – who was serving a jail sentence at the time for soliciting prostitution from a minor – was sent by Brown’s special adviser Nick Butler in June 2009 after the global financial crisis. It detailed potential policy measures and suggested the government had saleable assets.

Mandelson forwarded the email to Epstein and said: “Interesting note that’s gone to the PM.” Other information included prior notice of a £500billion EU bailout and heads-up on Brown’s resignation. Mandelson also revealed notes on confidential meetings between the then Chancellor and US economist Larry Summers, on changes to banking regulation and taxation. All this has been reported to the Met Police to investigate the leaking of highly sensitive information as possible misconduct in public office.

But don’t hold your breath. Brown, who nominated Mandelson for a peerage, failed to see his colleague’s failings and has now called for a police investigation. But whatever anyone knew, that Starmer should re-employ Mandelson in a key post where sensitivity to secret government information is of utmost importance shows a lack of judgment.

The PM often seems detached from the common-sense feelings of ordinary Britons. His great Chagos giveaway is a case in point, seemingly driven by a desire to worship at the altar of international law and a personal friendship with Attorney General Lord Hermer rather than any strategic interests. His past association with the prosecution of British servicemen is worrying too. Then, there is the illogical devotion to Ed Miliband’s costly and potentially disastrous net-zero crusade.

There is a sickness at the heart of the Labour chumocracy that does no favour to our national interest and, at its worst, actively betrays it. U-turn after U-turn shows Starmer puts himself above party and country, shoring up support from Left-wing backbenchers before being forced, kicking and screaming to recant.

Time and time again, Labour Party leaders have used Mandelson to shore up their own positions, despite his obvious flaws. Willing to overlook his numerous transgressions, they saw him as an antidote to the woolliness of the party faithful. But by violating the trust put in him, allegedly passing on government secrets to an outsider, he has surely reached the end of their tolerance – and ours.

Having already been forced to resign from the Labour Party, he has now decided to step down from the Lords as well – bringing an end to some four decades of public service in which he has appeared to serve himself as well as anyone else.