Peter Mandelson and former foreign secretary David Lammy laugh at a welcome reception Keir Starmer at the ambassador's residence in February.Labour splits over Peter Mandelson have erupted as pressure grows on Keir Starmer to sack his ambassador to Washington.
Downing Street said the prime minister still has full confidence in the Labour peer, despite further details emerging over his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
An alleged “birthday book” released earlier this week by the House Oversight Committee in America contained a message to from Mandelson in which he described Epstein as his “best pal”.
The Sun reported on Wednesday evening that Mandelson told Epstein “your friends stay with you and love you” even as he was facing child underage sex charges in 2008.
At prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Starmer said: “The victims of Epstein are at the forefront of our minds. He was a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women and girls.
“The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with him. He is right to do so. I have confidence in him, and he is playing an important role in the UK-US relationship.”
On Times Radio this morning, Home Office minister doubled down on the government’s support for Lord Mandelson staying in post.
But he reacted angrily when confronted with comments from Labour peer Lord Glasman, who says he urged Downing Street not to make Mandelson the ambassador to Washington.
Presenter Stig Abell said: “The brutal truth, says Glasman, is that the vast majority of people I meet consider our Labour government to be a front organisation for paedophiles and Pakistani rape gangs.”
Tapp interrupted to say: “And that’s offensive. I think Lord Glasman should retract that immediately. That’s absolutely offensive. I’m happy to talk to him about that.”
As Abell tried to read out more Glasman comments, Tapp said: “Sorry, I don’t really want to hear what Glasman has to say, because he’s saying absolutely ridiculous things.”
On Radio 4′s Today programme, former Labour frontbencher Andy McDonald said Mandelson “should go immediately”.
“His position is completely and utterly untenable and him staying on in post is just causing the government and the Labour Party further damage,” he said.
“I’m afraid if he doesn’t do the right thing and resign today then the prime minister should sack him.”
He added: “People have got their heads in the hands over this. I haven’t spoken to anybody who is offering any glimmer of support for Peter Mandelson. It is widespread revulsion.
“There isn’t anybody in the Labour Party who is supporting Peter Mandelson today and the prime minister’s got to hear that and understand it will weaken his position if he continues to support him. He cannot defend the indefensible.”
Lord Mandelson’s position is further complicated by the fact that Donald Trump, with whom he has established a good relationship, is in the UK next week for a state visit.
Starmer may be reluctant to lose his ambassador on the eve of such an important occasion, especially given Trump is also under pressure over his own previous links to Epstein.
However, senior Downing Street figures are understood to think that it is only a matter of time until Mandelson has to go.
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