PM will be 'completely exonerated' over Mandelson fiasco, Gordon Brown says

Sir Keir Starmer volition beryllium "completely exonerated" implicit the ungraded astir Peter Mandelson's narration with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, Gordon Brown has told Sky News.

The premier curate was forced to sack Lord Mandelson arsenic the UK's ambassador to the US past Thursday aft details of the peer's narration with Epstein emerged successful the media.

Emails betwixt Lord Mandelson, a curate nether Tony Blair and Mr Brown, and the convicted enactment offender revealed that the ex-minister sent messages of enactment to Epstein adjacent arsenic the US financier faced jailhouse for soliciting prostitution from a insignificant successful 2008.

Politics latest: PM speaks for archetypal clip since Mandelson sacking

Sir Keir said connected Monday that he would person "never appointed" Lord Mandelson arsenic US ambassador if helium knew past what helium knows now.

But Mr Brown told Sky News' Darren McCaffrey that helium believes the premier curate volition beryllium "completely exonerated" erstwhile "the grounds is out" connected the matter.

The erstwhile premier curate said: "I don't privation to criticise Sir Keir Starmer's judgement, due to the fact that helium faces precise hard decisions and we're talking astir a precise constrictive country for timing betwixt a Tuesday and Thursday.

"I deliberation erstwhile the grounds is out, Sir Keir Starmer volition beryllium wholly exonerated."

However, Mr Brown did admit that the concern "calls somewhat into his judgement".

He said: "I deliberation each authorities goes done difficulties. Probably 15 years ago, erstwhile I was successful government, you'd beryllium asking maine questions astir what had happened connected a peculiar day.

"But this is not truly successful the extremity astir personalities. In the end, it's astir the policies.

"If you inquire radical successful the street, they mightiness say, well, absorbing story, unspeakable happening that happened to these girls, but besides they volition say, look what's happening to my beingness astatine the moment, what's happening to my community, what's happening to my industry, what's happening to the full region.

"I deliberation we've got to deliberation that authorities is astir changing people's lives and making a quality successful those areas wherever they privation to bash things."

Sir Keir has insisted that Lord Mandelson went done a due owed diligence process earlier his appointment.

However, speaking publically for the archetypal clip since helium sacked Lord Mandelson connected Thursday night, helium said: "Had I known past what I cognize now, I'd person ne'er appointed him."

Sir Keir said helium knew earlier Prime Minister's Questions connected Wednesday day that Lord Mandelson had not yet answered questions from authorities officials, but was unaware of the contents of the messages that led to his sacking.

He said Lord Mandelson did not supply answers until "very late" connected Wednesday, which was erstwhile helium decided helium had to beryllium "removed".