British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced the biggest crisis of his leadership because of his decision to appoint a close ally of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the plum job of UK ambassador to the United States.
Many warned him not to appoint Peter Mandelson, a 72-year-old veteran statesman of the Labour Party, to the job. Starmer, who never met Epstein, accepts that Mandelson's appointment was a mistake and has apologised to Epstein's victims as well as to Labour and the country as a whole.
Starmer remains in office, but questions remain as to how long he can do so.
Here's a timeline looking at Mandelson's appointment and the scandal surrounding his ties with Epstein:
July 2024
Under Starmer, Labour returns to power after 14 years in opposition with a landslide victory over the Conservative Party.
December 2024
Starmer appoints Mandelson the UK ambassador to the US, despite knowing of his previous relationship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019, and of his two previous resignations from Tony Blair's government in 1998 and 2001. It was hoped that Mandelson would be able to use his charm and networking skills to help the UK navigate the tariffs that the incoming Trump administration was planning.
February 2025
Mandelson plays a central role in Starmer's visit to the White House, during which US President Donald Trump is invited to the UK for an unprecedented second state visit.
September 2025
On the eve of Trump's visit, Starmer fires Mandelson after email exchanges between him and Epstein are published, which indicate that he maintained a friendship with the disgraced financier after his 2008 conviction for sex offences involving a minor.
Starmer's judgment in appointing Mandelson is openly questioned, and Mandelson warns there may be more embarrassing disclosures to come.
January 30, 2026
The US Justice Department publishes more than 3 million pages of documents related to Epstein.
February 1, 2026
Mandelson quits his membership in the Labour Party to avoid causing "further embarrassment” as a result of his links to Epstein.
A few days later, he resigned his place in the UK's revising chamber, the House of Lords.
February 2, 2026
Epstein files indicate that Mandelson shared market-sensitive information with the disgraced financier in 2009 when he was a member of then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government during the global financial crisis.
The files also indicate that a year later, he tipped off Epstein about an imminent 500 billion-euro deal to prop up the European single currency.
The documents also suggest payments reportedly totaling US$75,000 were made from Epstein to accounts linked to Mandelson or his partner Reinaldo Avia da Silva.
February 3, 2026
British police open a criminal investigation into Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office.
February 4, 2026
Starmer agrees to release documents casting light on the decision to appoint Mandelson, and promises to introduce legislation to strip Mandelson of his honorific title of Lord Mandelson.
A visibly shaken Starmer tells Parliament that Mandelson had “lied repeatedly” about his ties to Epstein. Starmer faced angry questions about his judgment, with some Labour lawmakers suggesting that he should resign.
February 5, 2026
Starmer apologises to Epstein’s victims, saying Mandelson had portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.
“I am sorry, sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you,” Starmer said. “Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him.”
February 6, 2026
Police search two properties linked to Mandelson.
February 8, 2026
Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, quits, saying he takes full responsibility for advising the prime minister to appoint Mandelson.
Critics say advisers advise, but leaders decide.
February 9, 2026
Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, urges Starmer to stand down, saying “there have been too many mistakes." Cabinet ministers rally behind the prime minister, and Starmer wins the support of Labour lawmakers at a crucial behind-closed-doors meeting.
February 23, 2026
London's Metropolitan Police arrest Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and he is taken to a police station for questioning.
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