Starmer's Mandelson gamble backfires, threatening his leadership over Epstein links

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces fresh scrutiny over appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, with reports Mandelson was initially denied security clearance and Starmer potentially misled Parliament about the vetting process; the fallout includes the resignation of the Foreign Office’s top civil servant, a police probe into Mandelson, and renewed questions about Starmer’s integrity as Labour fights for credibility ahead of May elections.