Peter Mandelson arrest latest: Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre’s family issue statement as peer is held by police – UK Times

Sir Keir Starmer showed a “lack of judgement” in appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, a senior Conservative has said.

Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said there is a “lot we need to know” about how the appointment was made during an interview on Sky News.

“I think it… speaks to a lack of judgement on the part of the prime minister,” he said.

“Part of the process now, of getting to the bottom of exactly what happened will also be: what happened around his appointment, what information was known at what time and by whom, and were the right decisions justifiable decisions taken in that context?

“So there’s a lot that we need to know about.”

Virginia Giuffre’s family have reacted to Lord Peter Mandelson’s arrest this evening in a statement, saying it is “meaningful action”.

“We commend the British authorities for taking meaningful action and treating the Epstein files with the urgency they demand,” her brother and sister-in-law Sky and Amanda Roberts said.

The pair also addressed what they called “the continued inaction in the United States”, saying it is “undeniable”.

“Survivors deserve transparency, swift investigation, and real justice, no matter who is implicated,” they added.

Former Green Party leader Carla Denyer has said it is “absolutely right” that Lord Peter Mandelson has been arrested.

In a post on X, she wrote: “About time. Absolutely right that Mandelson is arrested for questioning. We owe so much to the bravery of the women who fought to get the Epstein files released.

“We must have full accountability from Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor.”

Kemi Badenoch has said the arrest of Lord Peter Mandelson is a “defining moment” for the prime minister.

It’s a matter of when [Starmer] goes, not if he goes”.

“I asked him if he had full confidence in Peter Mandelson, just a few months ago, and he said yes, despite all of these allegations being known, only to see the man arrested shows that the prime minister has terrible judgement,” the Conservative leader told Sky News.

“He’s weak. He has not released the information around the [Mandelson] files, though he sacks the person who is supposed to be overseeing the release.

“I think that shows what kind of person the prime minister is.”

Lord Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office as part of an investigation by Metropolitan Police into allegations he passed on market-sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as business secretary.

It is the latest development in the growing crisis engulfing the former US ambassador, who has resigned from the Labour Party and has left the House of Lords after further details of his friendship with the convicted felon emerged in the so-called Epstein files.

You can read more about the ex-Labour peer’s fall from grace below:

Baroness Jacqui Smith, minister for women and equalities, insisted that the prime minister took “swift action” to sack Lord Peter Mandelson when evidence of his continued relationship with Jeffrey Epstein came out.

She refused to comment on the ongoing investigation, telling Sky News: “I was the home secretary so I think I know better than to comment on what is clearly an ongoing police investigation. The police will do what they need to do in relation to this arrest and this investigation.

“I suppose it just behoves us once again to remember first of all that anyone who knows anything about Jeffrey Epstein should of course be providing that information. And once again we need to keep at the heart of our thoughts the victims of his activity, and that’s what I’ll be doing this evening.”

When put to her that the arrest reflects directly onto Sir Keir Starmer, Baroness Smith said: “Well of course, as soon as Keir Starmer understood what the reality of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was he sacked him, in the middle of the night actually. So I think that’s an important area of judgement.”

She added documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment are being published because the prime minister is “absolutely clear” that he wants “full transparency” about the process of his appointment.

“The prime minister took swift action against Peter Mandelson when the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein became clear, and he’s now making sure that the information and the messages around that are being released as effectively as possible while of course not prejudicing any investigations that are underway at the moment.”

Sir Keir Starmer has yet to publicly comment on Lord Peter Mandelson’s arrest this evening.

However, the prime minister previously told MPs the disgraced peer had “betrayed our country” as he insisted he had been lied to over Lord Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Keir said: “Mandelson betrayed our country, our Parliament and my party.

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

“If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government.”

The prime minister faces growing questions over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador.

Lord Peter Mandelson is a former Labour peer and cabinet minister who has been widely regarded as a key architect of New Labour.

He previously served as MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, where he was appointed business secretary and Northern Ireland secretary, but resigned twice over separate controversies.

Lord Mandelson was briefly US ambassador until he was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer in September 2025 following scrutiny over his ties to Epstein. Lord Mandelson has since resigned from Labour Party and House of Lords.

Lord Mandelson denies recalling the alleged payments and has apologised to Epstein’s victims, stating he was wrong to maintain an association with the financier after his conviction.