"Keir Starmer is facing serious questions about his political judgment after he was forced to sack his US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. In the second damaging departure for the government in a week, the prime minister withdrew support for Lord Mandelson over emails to Epstein from 2008 suggesting his sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution should be challenged. The scandal comes at a disastrous time for Starmer ahead of Donald Trump's state visit to the UK next week."
"The prime minister was also urged to clarify whether there were concerns from security officials about Mandelson, after Sky News reported that red flags were raised by intelligence services in the vetting process. It is understood that any concerns about security were likely to have been contained in a risk assessment from government officials, rather than from the intelligence agencies."
Keir Starmer dismissed US ambassador Peter Mandelson after revelations about Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and emails suggesting challenges to Epstein's 2008 sentence. The dismissal followed warnings and concerns about Mandelson's past, including a 2005 association with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Sky News reported that intelligence services raised red flags during vetting, prompting calls for clarification about security concerns; officials said any security worries were likely recorded in a government risk assessment. The sacking occurred amid other government controversies, including Angela Rayner's recent resignation over tax affairs, and ahead of Donald Trump's state visit, intensifying criticism of Starmer's judgment.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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