Badenoch accuses Starmer of 'lying to the country' about Peter Mandelson

Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of "lying to the full country" astir what helium knew regarding Peter Mandelson's correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.

Lord Mandelson was this week stripped of his position arsenic ambassador to the US amid caller scrutiny implicit his years-long relationship with the convicted paedophile.

The premier curate initially defended the Labour adjacent but removed him from his station connected Thursday aft recently seen emails revealed helium sent messages of enactment to Epstein adjacent arsenic helium faced jailhouse for enactment offences successful 2008.

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The Times has present reported that Downing Street and the Foreign Office were alert of the emails connected Tuesday - a time earlier Sir Keir gave Lord Mandelson his backing astatine Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).

In a station connected X, Conservative person Ms Badenoch wrote: "Looks similar the Prime Minister and Labour MPs spent the week lying to the full state astir what they knew regarding Mandelson's engagement with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein."

She continued: "If No 10 had those emails for 48 hours earlier acting, it means helium lied astatine PMQs and ministers lied again astir caller further information. These are yet much errors of judgment.

"The Prime Minister has precise superior questions to answer. The lone mode to wide this up is afloat transparency astir who knew what, and when."

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Sources said Sir Keir was not alert of the contents of the emails erstwhile helium told MPs helium had "confidence" successful Lord Mandelson.

A media enquiry outlining details of the messages betwixt Lord Mandelson and Epstein was sent to the Foreign Office connected Tuesday, and passed connected to Number 10.

Sir Oliver Robbins, the imperishable under-secretary astatine the Foreign Office, asked Lord Mandelson astir the emails connected Tuesday, but did not person a effect until the pursuing day.

Sir Keir is understood not to person been alert of the contents of the emails until Wednesday evening.

Speaking to Sky News, 1 Labour MP called for much accusation connected what happened down closed doors astatine Number 10 this week.

Jo White, MP for Bassetlaw, successful Nottinghamshire, said: "We cannot determination connected until we find retired however helium [Sir Keir] was not briefed decently earlier PMQs."

"What helium needs to bash present is get connected apical and benignant retired this mess," she said. "Suspend the whip from Peter Mandelson and expel him from the party, past person a transparent enquiry astir what went incorrect astatine Number 10."

The telephone came arsenic Sir Keir enjoyed immoderate clip distant from Downing Street.

The premier curate was connected Saturday pictured watching Arsenal look Nottingham Forest successful a Premier League lucifer astatine the Emirates Stadium.

Lord Mandelson's exit came aft little than a fortnight aft different high-profile nonaccomplishment for the Labour government, arsenic Angela Rayner was forced to discontinue arsenic lawman premier curate and lawman Labour person implicit her taxation affairs.

As Sir Keir has faced a scandal-hit commencement to the month, a increasing fig of Labour MPs person begun calling his enactment into question.

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Lucy Powell, who is moving to regenerate Ms Rayner arsenic Labour's lawman leader, has called for a "change of culture" astatine Downing Street.

"We've got a spot of a groupthink happening astatine the top, that civilization of not being receptive to interrogation, not being receptive to differing views," she told The Guardian newspaper.

Meanwhile, elder Labour MP Emily Thornberry has written to the caller overseas secretary, Yvette Cooper, demanding answers astir the vetting process for UK diplomats successful the aftermath of Lord Mandelson's sacking.