PM 'angry' over Mandelson scandal - as emergency debate set to ramp up pressure

An exigency statement volition instrumentality spot successful parliament contiguous implicit Sir Keir Starmer's arguable assignment of Peter Mandelson arsenic his ambassador to the US.

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has agreed to allot 3 hours for questions astir what the government, and peculiar the premier minister, knew and didn't cognize astir the extent of Lord Mandelson's narration with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Lord Mandelson was appointed successful January 2025 to the UK's astir elder overseas diplomatic presumption - the ambassador to the US.

He had ever admitted to having known Epstein, but past week the US Congress unveiled the contents of a 50th "birthday book" which revealed a overmuch person relationship.

Among the tributes to Epstein successful it, Lord Mandelson had described him arsenic "my champion pal".

Then, emails published by The Sun and Bloomberg were adjacent much damning, showing the erstwhile Labour curate sympathising with the convicted enactment trafficker, saying: "I deliberation the satellite of you and I consciousness hopeless and furious astir what has happened."

Lord Mandelson was removed from his ambassadorial station connected Thursday, but not earlier Sir Keir had defended him astatine PMQs the time before. He has travel nether occurrence implicit his handling of the issue.

I'm 'angry', says PM

On Monday, in his archetypal remarks astir the sacking, the embattled premier curate - who earlier this period mislaid his lawman Angela Rayner to a taxation affairs scandal - insisted helium would person "never appointed" Lord Mandelson if he'd known past what helium knows now.

He told Channel 4 News helium was "angry" to person ended up successful a concern wherever helium pivoted from defending him to sacking him wrong 24 hours, suggesting helium was unaware of the "detailed allegations" earlier PMQs.

But questions stay astir what precisely the PM - oregon the vetting squad - knew, and the authorities has declined to merchandise the details of the process Lord Mandelson underwent earlier helium was appointed.

The Conservatives anticipation to usage today's exigency statement to summation unit connected the authorities to people each the accusation - conscionable hours earlier Donald Trump lands successful the UK for a authorities visit.

The US president is himself embroiled successful questions astir his ain narration with the disgraced billionaire.

Analysis: No authorities sojourn has had a backdrop rather similar this

Sir Keir was besides deed by the resignation of Number 10's manager of strategy, Paul Ovenden, connected Monday. He discontinue aft it emerged he'd sent sexually explicit messages astir autarkic MP Diane Abbott.

It's each added up to a rotten commencement to the caller parliamentary word for the premier minister, who conscionable 2 weeks agone confidently declared "phase two" of his authorities was present nether way.

He's ruled retired resigning, contempt discontent connected his backbenches and Reform UK's sustained pb successful the polls.

But erstwhile premier curate Gordon Brown has travel to Sir Keir's defence.

Speaking to Sky News, helium said helium expected the PM to beryllium "completely exonerated" implicit the Mandelson scandal.

Mr Brown, the past Labour PM earlier Sir Keir, said helium didn't privation to criticise his judgement due to the fact that helium faces "very hard decisions".