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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Eleni Courea Political correspondent

Starmer was briefed on Mandelson’s Epstein links before appointing him, say civil servants

Peter Mandelson Jeffrey Epstein Sir Keir Starmer Oliver Robbins Chris Wormald the Foreign Office Cabinet Office
Mandelson and Starmer standing together in Washington DC in February.
Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer in Washington DC in February. Mandelson’s longstanding friendship with Jeffrey Epstein was a matter of public record before his appointment. Photograph: Carl Court/Reuters

Keir Starmer was briefed on details of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before he decided to make him US ambassador, senior civil servants have said.

The prime minister received a Cabinet Office report that contained “a summary of reputational risks” associated with appointing Lord Mandelson, including his “prior relationship with Jeffrey Epstein” and past resignations as a Labour minister.

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