The British government published the first documents covering the appointment of ‌Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to Washington on Wednesday (March 11, 2026), reviving questions about Prime Minister Keir ​Starmer’s judgment in employing a man close to Jeffrey Epstein.

The publication of the first ⁠tranche of documents covering the vetting of Mr. Mandelson, under police investigation for allegedly leaking government documents to the late sex offender, does little to reduce the pressure on Mr. Starmer, who is under fire over the appointment and a ‌series of policy U-turns.

The more than 100 pages of documents suggested concerns were raised about the “reputational risks” in appointing Mr. Mandelson, particularly over his friendship with Epstein, but also ‌his previous resignations from government and his support for closer ties with China.

Mr. Starmer sacked Mr. Mandelson from ‌what ⁠is considered the most prestigious posting in Britain’s diplomatic service in September, when the ⁠depth of his friendship with the convicted sex offender started to become clear.

Concerns about ‘reputational risks’

A document labelled “Advice to the prime minister, checks conducted on 4 December, 2024”, said: “After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship ​continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was ‌business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s House while he was in jail in June 2009.”

In a summary of a fact-finding call between the Prime Minister’s general counsel and the national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, in September, a ‌document said that Mr. Powell found the appointment process “unusual” and “weirdly rushed”.

Mr. Powell said he had concerns about ​Mr. Mandelson’s “reputation” in conversations with Morgan McSweeney, then the prime minister’s chief of staff. According to the note, Philip Barton, then the most senior government official at the ⁠foreign ministry, “also had reservations around the appointment”.

More documents to come

Mr. Starmer’s allies have sought to play down the importance of the first set of documents, saying an ongoing police investigation meant some of the more revealing ‌exchanges were being withheld.

Further documents will be released at a later date, papers which the British Prime Minister’s team say will prove Mr. Mandelson lied to Mr. Starmer about the extent of his relationship with Epstein before his appointment as ambassador in December 2024.

Darren Jones, Mr. Starmer’s Chief Secretary, told lawmakers last month the first tranche of documents would not include any correspondence between Mr. Starmer’s Downing Street office and Mr. Mandelson, when follow-up questions were asked, due to the probe.

Mr. Mandelson, a government Minister when Labour was previously in power ‌more than 15 years ago, quit the House of Lords, the upper house of parliament, in February over his ​links to Epstein. He was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and later released on bail.

Files released by the U.S. Justice Department in ⁠January included emails suggesting Mr. Mandelson had leaked government documents to Epstein, and that the convicted offender had recorded payments ⁠to Mr. Mandelson or his then-partner, now husband.

Mr. Mandelson has said he does not recall having received payments. He has not commented publicly on allegations he leaked documents, and did not ‌respond to messages seeking comment.

Mr. Starmer has expressed regret over the appointment, saying the Labour veteran had created a “litany of deceit” about his ties to Epstein, an apology that did little ​to quieten opposition voices saying the prime minister should step down.

Britain’s former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson, who was ‍dismissed over his links to Jeffrey Epstein last year, apologised on ​Sunday (January 11, 2026) to the victims of the late convicted ‌sex offender but not for his own ​actions.

Mr. Mandelson was fired in September over emails that came to light revealing a much closer relationship than previously acknowledged. The veteran British politician called Epstein “my best pal” and had advised him on seeking early jail release.

“I want to apologise to those women for a system ​that refused to hear their voices and did not ⁠give them the protection they were entitled to expect,” Mr. Mandelson told the BBC broadcaster when asked if he wanted to say sorry for ​his links.

Mr. Mandelson said he ⁠would only apologise for his own ties if he had known about Epstein’s actions or been complicit.

“I was not culpable, I was not knowledgeable of ‌what he was doing,” he said. “I believed his story ‌and that of his lawyer, who spent a lot of time trying to persuade me ‍of this… that he had been falsely criminalised in his contact with these young women. Now I wish I had ‍not believed that story.”

Britain’s government said at the time of Mr. Mandelson’s dismissal that the depth of his ties to Epstein appeared “materially different” from what was known at the time of his appointment.

It has since named Christian Turner as its next ambassador to the U.S. in a pivotal moment for transatlantic ties.

“Do you really think that ⁠if I knew what was going on and what he was doing with and to ​these vulnerable young women that I’d have just sat back, ignored ⁠it and moved on?”, Mr. Mandelson added in the interview, describing Epstein as an “evil monster”.

Mr. Mandelson also said he believed that, as a gay man in Epstein’s circle, he was “kept separate from what he was ⁠doing in the sexual side of his life”.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed a new U.K. Ambassador to the United States on Thursday (December 18, 2025), replacing a diplomat who was fired over his over his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Christian Turner, currently the U.K.’s permanent representative to the United Nations, will replace Peter Mandelson, who was sacked in September because of his friendship with Epstein.

The appointment comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has been critical of Europe and at a time when Mr. Starmer and his European peers are pushing to make sure that a U.S. brokered peace plan between Russia and Ukraine does not leave Kyiv vulnerable.

“The United Kingdom and United States have a very special relationship, and Christian’s extensive experience as an outstanding diplomat will support this uniquely close bond and ensure it continues to flourish,” Mr. Starmer said.

Mr. Turner, a veteran diplomat, will take on the role after U.S. agreement. He was previously political director of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and high commissioner to Pakistan.

Mr. Mandelson, a veteran politician, had played a key role persuading the Trump administration not to slap heavy tariffs on British goods when the two countries announced a trade deal in May.