Starmer apologises to Epstein’s victims for believing Peter Mandelson’s ‘lies’ | News Politics

Keir Starmer has said sorry to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for having believed the ‘lies’ of the paedophile’s friend Peter Mandelson before appointing him as ambassador to the US.

The Prime Minister is under enormous pressure from his own MPs as the full extent of Mandelson’s relationship with the convicted sex offender emerges from files released at the weekend.

At yesterday’s PMQs, Starmer revealed he knew that relationship continued beyond Epstein’s conviction on child sex offences when Mandelson was hired last year.

The controversy has thrown a spotlight on the PM’s Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, who was close with the former business secretary.

Speaking in East Sussex today, Starmer said: ‘The victims of Epstein have lived with trauma that most of us can barely comprehend, and they’ve had to live it again and again.

‘They have seen accountability delayed and too often denied.

‘To them, I want to say this: I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him.

‘Sorry that even now, you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.’

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