LONDON (AP) — Keir Starmer never met Jeffrey Epstein. But the British prime minister’s job is under threat because of the fallout from the late sex offender’s global web of relationships.
Friendship with Epstein has already brought down a British royal – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew – and U.K ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson, fired by Starmer over his links to the financier.
Now new revelations have plunged Starmer’s center-left government into turmoil.
The prime minister is facing mounting pressure from within his governing Labour Party over his decision in 2024 to appoint Mandelson, a veteran Labour politician, to the Washington role despite his ties to Epstein. Just how close those ties were has been exposed in newly released documents that have dominated headlines in the U.K.
Starmer apologized on Thursday to Epstein’s victims, saying Mandelson had repeatedly lied and “portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.”
“I am sorry, sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you,” Starmer said. “Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him.”
https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-peter-mandelson-epstein-ea1e52adb8399eb97825f5c34b3c7343
Mandelson resigns from the House of Lords
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/03/peter-mandelson-resigns-from-lords-after-epstein-email-leak-scandal
King Charles heckled over Andrew and Epstein during royal visit
Before Charles and Camilla arrived in Denham, Essex, images of Andrew released by the US Department of Justice had been printed out and scattered around
The King was heckled by members of the public about his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, during an official visit to Essex on Thursday.
One man was heard to ask whether the King had urged the police to investigate Andrew. Charles did not appear to hear the question, which was shouted during a walkabout with the Queen.
Another person was heard to ask whether the royal family would help with the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the paedophile financier who was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019.
Images of the former prince looking relaxed despite fresh Epstein revelations proved too much for long-suffering courtiers and his departure swiftly followed https://t.co/wPpP4TUDpq
— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) February 4, 2026
Was picture of grinning Andrew last straw for Palace?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2026/02/04/grinning-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-photo/
Jeffrey’s sinister plot to seed human race with his DNA…
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/05/jeffrey-epstein-eugenics-obsession-human-race-dna/