The UK government is currently facing a political crisis surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, with allegations that he passed market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been criticized for his handling of the scandal, with some Labour MPs calling for him to consider resigning or sacking his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who was instrumental in the decision to appoint Mandelson.
Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, has expressed regret over making Mandelson a peer and appointing him to a ministerial role in 2008. He wrote in the Guardian that he "greatly regrets" making Mandelson a peer and bringing him back into government, and that the news of his passing information to Epstein was "a betrayal of everything we stand for as a country."
The police have launched an investigation into claims that Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to Epstein, and two properties connected to Mandelson were searched on Friday. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) will play a role in sifting through the documents related to Mandelson's appointment.
Starmer has stated that a "very significant volume of material" related to his appointment of Mandelson as US ambassador will need to be reviewed before any documents can be released. He believes that the documents will prove that Mandelson lied about the extent of his relationship with Epstein during the vetting process.
The situation is likely to continue to dominate the headlines in the coming days, with Starmer facing increasing pressure to explain his handling of the scandal and to take action against those responsible.
Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, has expressed regret over making Mandelson a peer and appointing him to a ministerial role in 2008. He wrote in the Guardian that he "greatly regrets" making Mandelson a peer and bringing him back into government, and that the news of his passing information to Epstein was "a betrayal of everything we stand for as a country."
The police have launched an investigation into claims that Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to Epstein, and two properties connected to Mandelson were searched on Friday. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) will play a role in sifting through the documents related to Mandelson's appointment.
Starmer has stated that a "very significant volume of material" related to his appointment of Mandelson as US ambassador will need to be reviewed before any documents can be released. He believes that the documents will prove that Mandelson lied about the extent of his relationship with Epstein during the vetting process.
The situation is likely to continue to dominate the headlines in the coming days, with Starmer facing increasing pressure to explain his handling of the scandal and to take action against those responsible.