PMQs LIVE: Keir Starmer to face MPs as stress over Peter Mandelson scandal mounts

PM says Mandelson ‘betrayed’ Britain

Kemi Badenoch says all MPs will be “disgusted” by the latest Epstein revelations.

The Tory leader questions Mr Starmer’s judgement on appointing Lord Mandelson as Britain’s Ambassador to the US. Ms Badenoch asks what he knews about his links to Epstein when he chose him for the role.

The PM says Epstein “betrayed” Britain and said he lied repeatedly to No10 about his links to Epstein. Mr Starmer says he regrets ever appointing him.

The PM tells MPs: “Let me start where I must with the victims of Epstein and all of our thoughts are with them. Can I also say our thoughts are with all those who lost jobs, savings and livelihoods in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash and to learn that there was a cabinet minister leaking sensitive information at the height of the response to the 2008 crash. It’s beyond infuriating, and I am as angry as the public and any member of this House. Peter Mandelson betrayed our country.

“He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I regret appointing him.”

PMQs kicks off

Keir Strarmer opens PMQs by outlining the Government’s cancer plan.

He tells MPs: “It means investment in cutting edge technology so our exceptional frontline staff can give world class care. It funds more tests and scans, meaning faster diagnosis and treatment and tailored treatment in specialist centres.”

What new information emerged about Mandelson?

Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice appear to show Lord Mandelson leaked a sensitive UK government document in the aftermath of the global financial crisis on June 13, 2009 – when he was serving in Gordon Brown’s government as Business Secretary.

The memo, which was written by then-Prime Minister Mr Brown’s special adviser Nick Butler, proposed £20billion of asset sales and included Labour’s tax policy plans. In another email exchange from 2009, Lord Mandelson appeared to tell Epstein he would lobby ministers over a tax on bankers’ bonuses.

Elsewhere, photographs of him half dressed alongside a woman in a bathrobe featured among thousands of images released by the US government. Bank statements in the files also suggested Epstein sent Lord Mandelson two payments of $25,000 in 2004, and another $25,000 to the account of Reinaldo Avila da Silva, now Lord Mandelson’s husband, in 2003.

Lord Mandelson insisted he doesn’t remember the payments, telling The Mirror on Sunday: “I have no record and no recollection of receiving these sums and do not know if the documents are authentic. I can say clearly, though, I regret ever having known Epstein.”

First PMQs in a fortnight

Keir Starmer missed last week’s PMQs session as he was on a major trip to China – the first one by a British PM in eight years.

During his trip, Mr Starmer secured a deal to allow Brits travelling for up to 30 days to escape the hassle of getting a visa. Tariffs on whisky will also halve from 10% to 5% in a boost of £250million over five years to the industry.

And the PM said Chinese sanctions against British MPs and peers have been lifted after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During Mr Starmer’s visit to China, No10 also left the door open to a future visit to Britain by President Xi, whose last state visit was in October 2015.

Starmer to face MPs amid Mandelson row

Keir Starmer will face MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions amid mounting pressure over his decision to appoint scandal-hit Peter Mandelson as Britain’s Ambassador the US.

A row over Lord Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein has dominated the Westminster world after the US Government last week released new emails exposing the pair’s relationship. The Labour veteran – who quit the Lords yesterday – now faces a police probe amid accusations he passed market-sensitive information to the billionaire predator during the 2008 financial crash.

It was confirmed this morning Mr Starmer will release papers relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is likely to seize on the row at PMQs, ahead of a Conservative-led debate on which documents the party wants to be released.