Peter Mandelson ambassador appointment was ‘rational’ at time, prime minister argues
Cabinet minister Steve Reed said Peter Mandelson lied not only to the Prime Minister – but to his entire team over his friendship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
Sacked ambassador Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer last year(Image: PA)
A top Labour minister has insisted it was “rational” to appoint Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington at the time.
Cabinet minister Steve Reed said Lord Mandelson – who was sacked by Keir Starmer last year – lied not only to the Prime Minister but to his entire Downing Street team over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking to Times Radio , Mr Reed said: “He lied about the extent of his relationship.He made out they barely knew each other. If that was what you believed at the time, and we needed to appoint an ambassador to carry out a trade deal with the United States, then it was rational, given Peter Mandelson’s experience as EU Trade Commissioner and UK Trade Secretary, it was rational to appoint him.”
But he reiterated the PM’s comments that if the government knew the full extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with the billionaire predator he would never have been appointed. The Housing Secretary – a loyalist of Mr Starmer – told Sky News the Labour veteran Lord Mandelson “conned everybody” and betrayed the country.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer says Peter Mandelson ‘lied and lied’ over Epstein as backlash mounts
And he insisted Keir Starmer and his top adviser are safe in their roles amid mounting anger. He told Sky News: “The person at fault here is not the Prime Minister or his team. It is Peter Mandelson who lied, manipulated and deceived everybody, including the media, actually, because he was on the media an awful lot as well. He conned everybody.
“What matters is what you do when you find out what’s gone wrong. And the Prime Minister couldn’t have been more decisive. He sacked Peter Manson at 5am in the morning as US ambassador months ago.”
Mr Reed said he felt like he had “been punched in the stomach” when he found out about Lord Mandelson’s dealings with convicted child sex offender Epstein from the documents released by US authorities.
Last night Downing Street was tonight battling to contain the scandal amid a backlash over a slew of fresh revelations about the Labour veteran. The PM was also forced into a climbdown by MPs, led by Angela Rayner, over the release of files about Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
A Labour source said: “The mood is really bad. It felt like over Christmas things had settled down. But it’s always a bit like walking on thin ice. It feels a bit like a powder keg.”
Pressed on BBC Breakfast whether the PM’s position was secure, Mr Reed replied: “Of course it is. What’s gone here is Peter Mandleson – we now know – has lied to absolutely everybody.” He also said Mr McSweeney – the PM’s chief-of-staff – was safe in his role.
Mandelson has not commented publicly since the police launched their investigation. But the former Labour peer has maintained that he has not acted criminally, did not act for personal gain and will cooperate with the police.
