Labour MPs hammer Starmer over baffling decisions on now-departed Mandelson

It’s been a rough week for Keir Starmer and Peter Mandelson, our now former-ambassador to the US.

Mandelson gone – but evidence still piling up

First, a US House committee released a “trove of documents” which included a letter from Mandelson to his “best pal” Jeffry Epstein, the convicted sex offender. Also this week, it was revealed that then-business secretary Mandelson attempted to involve Epstein in a deal to sell a nationalised UK business to a US bank. Next, Mandelson gave an interview in which he awkwardly failed to justify continuing his friendship with the then-convicted Epstein.

People thought this avalanche of shame would mean Starmer had to force Mandelson out. Unlike last week when Angela Rayner went, however, the PM stood by his man. And then came more leaks:

NEW: Peter Mandelson’s 100 previously unreported emails with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein between 2005 and 2010.

By Bloomberg’s investigations team

Gift link:https://t.co/RY5XqVTvmi

— Ailbhe Rea (@PronouncedAlva) September 10, 2025

In response, Labour MPs came out to hammer Starmer on his poor judgement. They had good reason to do so, as Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was no secret when Starmer brought him into the fold. They also contributed towards the dam finally breaking, with Starmer sacking Mandelson some 15 minutes after we finished this now-updated article:

The 'revelations' about Peter Mandelson this week were nothing new – they just added colour and depth to what was already known about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

So why did Keir Starmer think he was an appropriate pick for ambassador in the first place? https://t.co/hlJSqRZyYs

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) September 11, 2025

Labour vs Starmer

Before we cover what these MPs said, we’d like to shout out our friends at Declassified UK, who have once again used their powers of premonition to predict a future mainstream news cycle:

Can you see any similarities between these articles?

Declassified revealed last week that Peter Mandelson asked Jeffrey Epstein for help vetting an Israeli consultant in 2013.

The Times has now published the same story, claiming it as their own.@Josiensor @tomfball @josh_lowe pic.twitter.com/4ZtkNhbzpr

— Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) September 11, 2025

The first MP we saw criticising Starmer was Richard Burgon, who had this to say:

Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed. He should be immediately sacked.

— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) September 10, 2025

As the old saying goes, the best time to sack Mandelson was when he first came sniffing around for a job; the second best time was now.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell highlighted that he’d been warning about Mandelson for some time:

Just a reminder of what I warned in 2024 when Keir Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson to be ambassador to US. https://t.co/rn7JLXWKr0

— John McDonnell (@johnmcdonnellMP) September 10, 2025

Many were warning Starmer this, but he didn’t listen, and the mainstream media didn’t press him, so this is where we ended up – with everything coming out as one big mega-scandal.

Nadia Whittome has this to say:

It has long been known that Mandelson remained close to Epstein even after he was convicted of sex offences.

He shouldn't have been appointed in the first place, and it is very clear that the Prime Minister must sack him immediately.

We either stand with victims or we don’t.

— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) September 10, 2025

Clive Lewis described the incident as a ‘stain’, and used the scandal as an opportunity to argue that Labour needs a root and branch rethink of how it does politics:

1.

Mandelson isn’t an outlier – he’s the embodiment of the rot at the heart of modern politics.

The revolving door. The corporate boxes. The bending of politics toward wealth + status

He doesn’t just live in that system – he personifies it.

& now it stains Labour at the very… pic.twitter.com/QQiMIdpsvb

— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) September 10, 2025

3.
But we can choose differently.

We can put community, solidarity & public service back at the heart of politics.

Measure worth not by wealth or proximity to privilege – but by integrity and contribution to society.

That’s the renewal our democracy needs.

— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) September 10, 2025

Many others commented on the poor decisions (to put it mildly) of Mandelson and Starmer:

Peter Mandelson, UK ambassador to the US, begging to be included in Epstein’s plans on ‘the island’ where so many of Epstein’s crimes were committed.

That Keir Starmer still hasn’t sacked this guy is a kick in the teeth to survivors and damn right pathetic. pic.twitter.com/Nsu5mcMxHP

— Jess Barnard (@JessicaLBarnard) September 10, 2025

Mandelson emails to Epstein (released tonight), after Epstein’s conviction for child sex offences read:

“I feel hopeless & furious about this”
“Ultimately you will come through this stronger”
“You will find opportunities”

Starmer has always supported Mandelson

And it stinks. pic.twitter.com/FOv6yIdiz0

— Howard Beckett (@BeckettUnite) September 10, 2025

"He has no morals, values, principles, and he'll defend Peter Mandelson up until the point he thinks he needs to for his own career."

Zack Polanski pulls no punches on Keir Starmer. pic.twitter.com/nG6NU4y2hM

— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) September 10, 2025

Can this go on?

As to why Starmer kept Mandelson in place for so long, people online had thoughts:

Imagine the dirt they have on Starmer for him to defend Mandelson like this.

— Jonny Mao (@JonnyMao__) September 10, 2025

We’re not saying the above tweet is accurate, but it did make a lot more sense than the official line, which was that Starmer thought Mandelson was a competent and trustworthy politician.

Thankfully, Starmer has now proven all the conspiracy theories wrong, and done what any normal politician would have done 12 months ago. Saying that, a normal politician wouldn’t have given Mandelson the job in the first place, but still, better late than never.

Featured image via Number 10 – Flickr /  Richard Burgon – Wikimedia  /  Chris McAndrew – Wikimedia  /  David Woolfall – Wikimedia  /  Roger Harris – Wikimedia