ANGER over the Peter Mandelson scandal intensified today after a Cabinet Minister said his appointment was “worth the risk”.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle defended hiring the “talented” Labour peer as US ambassador despite his known friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Peter Mandelson was sacked on Thursday after old emails revealed he urged disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to fight his paedophilia conviction[/caption]
Business Secretary Peter Kyle today defended the hiring of the ‘talented’ Labour peer despite his known friendship with Epstein[/caption]
Sir Keir Starmer is now facing pressure to “come clean” over what he knew both when he appointed Lord Mandelson early this year and then stood by him last Wednesday.
The PM sacked him on Thursday following the publication of old emails showing the New Labour spin doctor urging the disgraced financier to fight his paedophilia conviction.
In a grilling this morning, Mr Kyle said Sir Keir only became aware of this correspondence on Wednesday evening and acted quickly to fire him.
Asked why Lord Mandelson was given the job in the first place given his well-documented relationship with Epstein, the Cabinet Minister insisted he was a “singular talent”.
Mr Kyle told Sky News: “We knew that there were risks involved… his talent led us to believe at the time that the risk was worth it.”
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake blasted: “It is astonishing that the new Business and Trade Secretary has openly admitted that Downing Street chose to prioritise Mandelson’s ‘singular and outstanding talents’ over the rights of Epstein’s victims.”
Kemi Badenoch demanded Sir Keir come to Parliament tomorrow to “tell the truth about what he knew and when” regarding Lord Mandelson.
Labour MP Graham Stringer said the PM was “vulnerable” and “sipping in the last chance saloon”.
He put the boot in after a torrid week for Sir Keir in which he was forced to sack Lord Mandelson just a week after losing his deputy PM Angela Rayner.
Sir Keir risks still being dogged by the scandal when Donald Trump arrives for his second State Visit on Tuesday.
Questions are still mounting as to why the PM gave a full-throated defence of Lord Mandelson on Wednesday in the Commons.
The day before the US ambassador had told The Sun more “embarrassing” correspondence between him and Epstein would come out.
The Foreign Office had also been contacted by Bloomberg with the emails on Tuesday that would lead to the sacking.
