Keir Starmer has indicated he will carry on as Prime Minister despite growing anger inside his own party at the handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal.
Speaking in Hastings, the Prime Minister immediately addressed the controversy which threatens to engulf his premiership.
In his hastily rewritten speech, he issued a grovelling apology to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims for ‘believing’ Mandelson and insisted the former Labour peer ‘lied’ about the extent of his friendship with the paedophile financier.
The Prime Minister also shared he has been frustrated by police over the release of documents he claims will show Mandelson’s deceit during security vetting for thje US ambassador role.
Appearing rattled during repeated questioning about whether he can remain in Downing Street, Starmer insisted he was elected to ‘change the country’.
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‘Surely his head will roll’: Mail readers react as Starmer addresses Mandelson scandal
What planet does this duplicitous moron live on. He’s correcting nothing and as for stabilising the economy is that Liebour speak for destroying it. The man is an utter disgrace.
Surely his head will roll after this latest travesty, Sadly a majority of the Labour party sing from the same some sheet, Wonder who will replace him? Same beer different bottle.
Deflection from his absolute disaster story of pretending to be a prime minister. First time he answered a question directly yesterday . He’s toast. Sooner he is gone, the better. Liebour are a disaster.
Is there anyone in the country who didn’t know what Mandelson was like. It was called out in the press, in the papers and by the White House.No excuses, quit now.
Kemi Badenoch: Cabinet ministers defending Starmer should be ‘ashamed’
This morning, Cabinet ministers were out there defending the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, still claiming that it was a rational appointment. They should be ashamed.
Key lines from Starmer press conference as PM apologises for Mandelson appointment
Starmer tells Labour rebels ‘I intend to go on’
We had 14 long years of failure under the Tory government and we’re correcting that. We’ve stabilised the economy, we’ve put a huge amount of investment into our public services and we’re rebuilding our communities.
And I intend to go on doing that vital work for our country because I believe it is the absolute focus and of first importance for this Government.
Starmer vows to review security vetting in wake of Mandelson appointment
There was a due diligence exercise that culminated in questions being asked because I wanted to know the answer to certain issues. That’s why those questions were asked. The answer to those questions were not truthful.
There was then, I should add, security vetting carried out independently by the security services, which is an intensive exercise that gave him clearance for the role, and you have to go through that before you take up the post. Clearly, both the due diligence and the security vetting need to be looked at again.
Starmer: I understand MP’s frustration over Mandelson
Let me say I understand their anger and frustration. I am angry and frustrated like them, because nobody wants to see these deceits in public life. They are angry about his association with Epstein, as am I.
They’re angry about what he did at the tail end of the last Labour government, and frustrated, as am I, that the full information of what was asked and answered when he was appointed can’t be in the public domain.
Watch: Starmer insists no-one knew ‘darkness’ of Mandelson and Epstein’s relationship
Rattled Starmer refuses to discuss his political future
I was elected in on a mandate in 2024 to change the country for the better.
Starmer attempts to clarify remarks gave in PMQs
I had no reason at that stage to think that was anything other than the truth, and therefore we proceeded. What I learnt in September was that was not the truth. When further emails came to light … and having asked some further questions, including questions about whether Mandelson received gifts, benefits and hospitality, and the nature of the relationship, I sacked Mandelson from the role.
Starmer vows to ‘uphold integrity of public life’
We will uphold the integrity of public life, and we will do everything within our power and in the interests of justice.
To ensure accountability is delivered. That is what the public expects. That is what the victims deserve, and it is what I will do.
Starmer claims Mandelson portrayed Epstein as someone ‘he barely knew’
The information now available makes clear that the answers he gave were lies. He portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew. And when that became clear, and it was not true, I sacked him.
Starmer: I won’t release Mandelson files for ‘political game’
I understand the strength of public feeling. I share the anger that people feel when powerful individuals appear to escape scrutiny. And I want to be able to release those documents as quickly as possible.
I wanted to release them yesterday, in fact, and to talk about them at Prime Minister’s Questions. But the police have advised that releasing certain information now could risk prejudicing a future investigation or legal process.
And however frustrating from my personal point of view that is, and it is, I will not take any step, however politically tempting, however popular, that risks justice for victims. Because this is not and must never become a political game.
