<p>Fresh revelations about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have sparked a political explosion in Westminster, reopening questions about Keir Starmer’s decision to return him to the heart of public life. Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to Washington, has resigned from the House of Lords and from the Labour Party, while a criminal investigation has been launched into allegations that he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as business secretary under Gordon Brown.</p><br><p>Starmer has apologised for appointing Mandelson and pledged to publish the files relating to his vetting for the ambassadorship, but with pressure growing on his leadership, how can the prime minister and the Labour Party hope to move on?</p><br><p>Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Jim Pickard, Stephen Bush and Ashley Armstrong to discuss the fallout.</p><br><p>Follow the panel on Bluesky - Lucy <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/lucyfisher.ft.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@lucyfisher.ft.com</a>; Jim <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@pickardje.bsky.social</a>; and Stephen <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/stephenkb.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@stephenkb.bsky.social</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br><p><em>Want more? Free links:&nbsp;</em>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/584aec03-6eaa-4aee-8751-88592253d3bc?accessToken=zwAAAZzNnDwvkc9YSuwDbqpK7tOHUYhZIlPTvAE.MEUCIQCZKtp6OcIHJvk4fBAKL9IGV8Dk6j7dIOcKY7DmQlCmJAIgH9MKf4QQRICqv2qItUeMlm_58_FM0x9CttV_3CLBf4Y&amp;segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Keir Starmer apologises to victims of Jeffrey Epstein&nbsp;</a></p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/7a1669c5-4915-49f6-9fa7-583d1385405c?accessToken=zwAAAZzNgPx8kc96FmnFSRVJ9tOfp1g9E4VAXAE.MEYCIQDZLfkaHsXQ8Vg1DcC9PBD-Ibm4MsLT4evFbGtlizn1HQIhAKgZeRAQOuRLVliIMlYcjvPiUrY8dhd9NSV9ZIoAx31-&amp;segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pressure grows on Keir Starmer’s chief of staff over Peter Mandelson ambassador appointment</a></p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/22bccc4e-2047-4998-9a8d-b7acf1d93d8e?accessToken=zwAAAZzNqhfLkc8ivMxOIEdJmNOajbes8dk9jgE.MEQCIBhD7QlqS8UWNZFabid25swtjL0NkYn7oDuTCykzKSCWAiAY2lJ0gPngbq2lq5AS8ILJrycKpV8TW37fIC6F0rcyxQ&amp;segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Every doomed prime minister has a moment – this is Starmer’s</a></p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1a296ae4-a19d-4650-bdf9-4a3a1d1b25f7?accessToken=zwAAAZzIeRoukc8aKWrkoZ1GUNO9-Uo6HRsl9wE.MEUCIF0azxKHqYYMt0K6VtJCjjkDgR6Tngow4AOwiQhZVlfzAiEAqwVP5MrfY4lQQer1gTJkXQN6rlSLyapSRoNkU-6ILnk&amp;segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mandelson and the money that never sleeps</a></p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/fdf7afe9-9ad3-4325-8843-f590dcdd7e57?accessToken=zwAAAZzIeHw8kdP996_pmtNDJdOIQ_WQ3N1-VwE.MEYCIQCjY1ayOc2WSH59kX1SjMtNgCtmmYtB-pJ7p-5TrG0iXwIhAM0MUozwQYU5NpFxJBVhlsUcPn-wPMdhAHjrxQ9KVqel&amp;segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Peter Mandelson leaked sensitive UK government tax plans to Jeffrey Epstein&nbsp;</a></p><br><p>George Parker’s interview from 2025 – <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/085e20be-0e98-4c9b-8db7-ed52ea279575?accessToken=zwAAAZzIdTFMkc8IXiC-DphMm9ONt-1S6ieVdQE.MEYCIQCph8_TPUDZfMRYqM4Nw8sHovSkdQtVmAGu5TYaiY1-5QIhAMPqM42fXhAst-FFBXuxjzSyykatGa5Ls7HaHmJjYLv7&amp;segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Peter Mandelson’s back: The Prince of Darkness returns&nbsp;</a></p><br><p>Sign up <a href="https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here f</a>or Stephen Bush's morning newsletter ‘Inside Politics’ for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek analysis. Get 30 days free.</p><br><p>Presented by Lucy Fisher, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.</p><br><p><strong>What did you think of this episode? Let us know at </strong><a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>[email protected]</strong></a></p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/547eba92-c7f2-480e-a731-44d6811a7778" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com</strong></a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>