Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is confronting a serious political crisis after newly released material relating to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein exposed that Peter Mandelson, a veteran Labour figure and former ambassador to Washington, maintained ties with Epstein and potentially shared sensitive information while serving in government.

The scandal has eroded confidence within the governing party and the wider political establishment, forcing several senior aides to resign and prompting calls for accountability from both opposition figures and within Starmer’s own ranks.

The controversy centres on the vetting and appointment of Mandelson in late 2024 to one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent diplomatic posts despite knowledge of his connections to Epstein, whose extensive criminal history and conviction related to sexual offences have made any association especially sensitive.

The crisis escalated after the release of millions of pages of files by the U.S. Department of Justice that appeared to show Mandelson’s communications with Epstein included discussions that could involve leaking government information and financial exchanges.

Police have launched an investigation into potential misconduct in public office, and law enforcement officials have searched properties linked to Mandelson.

The former ambassador subsequently resigned from the House of Lords and from the Labour Party as pressure intensified at Westminster.

Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, stepped down after acknowledging he had advised the prime minister to appoint Mandelson, a decision he described as mistaken, while the government’s communications chief also resigned amid the fallout.

With some Labour lawmakers publicly urging Starmer to resign and the Scottish Labour leader calling for a change in leadership, the prime minister has resisted stepping aside, asserting his mandate and responsibility to the nation.

He has pledged to release tens of thousands of documents related to the appointment process, although sensitive material must first be vetted to avoid compromising national security or ongoing police inquiries.

The opposition Conservative Party has seized on the controversy to intensify scrutiny of Starmer’s judgment, though several senior Labour ministers and figures have rallied in support of the prime minister.

The episode has weakened public trust in government judgment, raised questions about vetting procedures for senior appointments and injected uncertainty into the political landscape ahead of key elections, with analysts suggesting the crisis could have lasting implications for the governing Labour Party’s standing.