Sir Keir Starmer has said he is sorry for believing Peter Mandelson’s “lies” and for appointing him to the role of Britain’s ambassador to the US, as he tries to weather the crisis that has threatened to end his premiership.
Following a barrage of criticism from his own MPs on one of the most turbulent days of his leadership, the prime minister began a planned speech about community cohesion with a frank apology to the victims of paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, as he addressed growing anger over the way he has dealt with the issue.