The Digester

At PMQs Sir Keir Starmer apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the US but would not say whether he personally spoke to Mandelson about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after documents warned of reputational risk.

Sir Keir apologised for appointing Lord Mandelson but declined to confirm whether he personally questioned Mandelson about his links to Jeffrey Epstein when challenged at PMQs by Kemi Badenoch.
Released files warned Mandelson's Epstein links posed a reputational risk and cited a 2019 JP Morgan report saying Epstein appeared particularly close to Mandelson and that Mandelson stayed at Epstein's house in 2009.
Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador last September after fresh information emerged and says he did not lie and answered written vetting questions fully.
The Times reported the prime minister asked his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney to handle vetting questions rather than speaking to Mandelson, and McSweeney later resigned.
No 10 says the full process was followed and there was no requirement for a formal interview with the prime minister, and an independent adviser reviewed the appointment process.

PM will not confirm if he spoke to Mandelson about Epstein before appointment

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