Donald Trump is set to arrive in the UK this week for an unprecedented second state visit, but the timing could not be more turbulent for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His leadership is under intense pressure following the growing fallout from the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.
Reports suggest Starmer had a heated confrontation with his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after revelations about No 10’s handling of Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein. According to The Mail on Sunday, Starmer allegedly shouted, “You are supposed to protect me from things like this!” with McSweeney retorting that he had been trying to do exactly that. Downing Street initially denied this exchange but later appeared to backtrack.
The crisis erupted after Lord Mandelson was forced to step down as the UK’s representative in Washington. Newly uncovered emails revealed he had continued supportive contact with Epstein, even after Epstein’s conviction for sex offences. Downing Street and the Foreign Office stated that these disclosures showed Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was “materially different” from what had previously been understood.
Before Mandelson’s appointment, Starmer was reportedly handed a file detailing his ties to Epstein. He questioned Mandelson on why he maintained contact after Epstein’s conviction, whether he stayed at Epstein’s home during his imprisonment, and his possible involvement with a Ghislaine Maxwell-linked charity. Mandelson insisted he had been truthful and denied staying at Epstein’s residence while Epstein was in prison. However, No 10 sources later claimed his responses were “economical with the truth.”
With Trump’s high-profile visit just days away, Starmer now faces a perfect storm of political pressure, media scrutiny, and questions over his judgment all while trying to project stability on the world stage.
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