British leader Starmer’s job at risk over Epstein-linked envoy’s vetting

3 weeks ago 17

Democracy Dies in Darkness

The prime minister appears to be in the sharpest peril of his 21 months in office, after revelations that Peter Mandelson was appointed despite red flags in the security review.

April 20, 2026 at 4:46 p.m. EDT16 minutes ago

In this photo taken and released by the House of Commons, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks Monday. (Handout/AFP/Getty Images)

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life after revelations that Peter Mandelson, the veteran Labour grandee Starmer appointed as his ambassador to Washington, took up his post even after failing a classified security-vetting process because of his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.