Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:24pm on 05 Feb 2026,Thursday International
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an apology for believing Peter Mandelson's lies and appointing him as US ambassador, addressing the scandal during a speech in East Sussex. Starmer stated that when Mandelson was questioned about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, his answers were "intentionally intended to create the impression" that he "barely knew" him. When asked if he would resist party efforts to remove him as leader, Starmer said he remains focused on changing the country for the better. The PM expressed his intention to release the Mandelson files "as quickly as possible." Political editor Chris Mason described the moment as a prime minister "scrapping for his future with his back against the wall."
