Downing Street is facing intense scrutiny and accusations of a sluggish response to the revelations that ultimately led to the dismissal of US ambassador Peter Mandelson. Fury is reportedly growing within the Labour party over the handling of the scandal, which centers on Mandelson’s encouraging emails to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle defended the government’s timeline, telling reporters that No. 10 was not aware of the full content of the emails until they were published by the press. However, it is understood that Mandelson had been in contact with a senior Foreign Office official about the impending story, raising questions about when the alarm was first raised internally.
The controversy has become a major political liability, particularly with Donald Trump scheduled for a state visit. The opposition Conservative party has seized on the issue, demanding Prime Minister Keir Starmer release all correspondence related to Mandelson’s vetting and the government’s reaction to the email discovery, seeking to expose a potential cover-up or incompetence.
Former ambassador Kim Darroch commented on the typically rigorous nature of the vetting process, which can take weeks and involves deep background checks. His insights cast further doubt on how Mandelson’s appointment was approved and why the subsequent revelations appeared to catch Downing Street off guard.