The Conservative Party has written to Sir Keir Starmer demanding answers about what Downing Street knew about Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein and when.
They also called for the UK prime minister to release documents relating to his appointment as ambassador to Washington and correspondence that shows how his Downing Street operation reacted when alerted to the emails obtained by Bloomberg “without delay”.
The Labour grandee was sacked on Thursday over emails that showed he sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Starmer at the weekend of lying over what he knew and said he had “very serious questions to answer”.
She was referring to reporting that Downing Street was aware of the emails on Tuesday, two days before Mandelson was removed from his post and a day before Mr Starmer backed him at Prime Minister’s Questions.
A UK Cabinet minister said No 10 had “extracts” of the emails on Tuesday.
Mandelson was deemed “worth the risk” to appoint as ambassador after checks were carried out, UK business secretary Peter Kyle told broadcasters on Sunday.
Alex Burghart, the shadow chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster, has now written to the UK prime minister setting out a series of questions.
Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed ambassador. It is time that someone took responsibility for this terrible decision
He said the scandal had exposed “appalling judgment” on the Prime Minister’s part and accused him of “avoiding scrutiny”.
In the letter, he asked:
– Whether Mr Starmer was aware of the existence of the emails and if he had been briefed on their contents before Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
– If he asked his staff before he appeared in the House of Commons what more information might surface, in relation to Mandelson’s interview with The Sun that morning where he said that “a lot of traffic, correspondence” between him and Epstein would “surface”.
– When Mr Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney spoke with Mandelson during the week and what was discussed.
– Whether the prime minister would answer questions from the House of Commons and its committees and direct other officials to give evidence.
Mr Burghart also called on Mr Starmer to publish documents, including details of vetting by the Cabinet Office and Mr McSweeney.
He urged the prime minister to release all correspondence between the Foreign Office, Downing Street, Mandelson and the British Embassy in Washington relating to the cache of messages Bloomberg obtained.
Mr Starmer was also asked to release any communication between officials and advisers as part of preparations for Prime Minister’s Questions last week.
The Tories have said they will use “every parliamentary mechanism” available in the coming days to compel the release of files.
Mr Burghart said: “This scandal has exposed the Prime Minister’s appalling judgment. He ignored warnings about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, forced through his appointment, and is avoiding scrutiny about what he knew.
“Keir Starmer must now publish the Mandelson/Epstein Files in full, and order his Chief of Staff and senior officials to face questioning.
“While Putin violates Nato airspace and Britain prepares to host the president of the United States, we are saddled with a Prime Minister paralysed by scandal and incapable of leading our country.
“Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed ambassador. It is time that someone took responsibility for this terrible decision.”
