PMQs live: Badenoch calls Starmer ‘embarrassing’ for backing Mandelson after Epstein revelations – UK Times

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether or not he was aware of the relationship between paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson before he was appointed to the role of ambassador.

Instead, the prime minister just said “full due process was followed during this appointment, as it is with all ambassadors”.

It came after the prime minister insisted he has confidence in Mr Mandelson, despite the recent revelations about the ambassador’s relationship with Epstein.

The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Sir Keir Starmer has said he has full confidence in Lord Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.

The prime minister said Jeffrey Epstein’s victims are “at the forefront of our minds” as he defended the Labour grandee.

Kemi Badenoch raised questions about the revelation Lord Mandelson had described the late paedophile as his “best pal” who he “loves”.

Sir Keir said: “The victims of Epstein are at the forefront of our minds. He was a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women and girls. The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with him. He’s right to do so.

“I have confidence in him, and he’s playing an important role in the UK US relationship.”

The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to pile pressure on Israel when he meets the country’s president this evening.

The prime minister has come under pressure to cancel his meeting with Izaac Herzog, but said he would not “walk away from a diplomatic solution”.

Speaking at PMQs, Sir Keir said: “I will be absolutely clear that we condemn Israel’s action.

I will also be clear that restrictions on aid must be lifted. The offensive in Gaza must stop, and settlement building must cease.”

Sir Keir Starmer is now facing his weekly questions in the Commons.

It is the first PMQs since his major cabinet reshuffle, with several major issues on the table.

The prime minister began by sending condolences to the royal family after the death of the Duchess of Kent, and condemned Israeli strikes on Qatar.

Topics likely to be raised include his backing of Peter Mandelson after Jefferey Epstein revelations, his controversial meeting with the Israeli president this afternoon and Labour’s deputy leadership contest.

We’ll bring you the latest updates here.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy is giving evidence to the culture, media and sport committee in the Commons and has taken aim at Nigel Faragre’s show on GB News.

She told MPs: “I’ve had particular concerns raised with me by parliamentarians about the appearance of Nigel Farage presenting news programs on GB News. I think that is a fair criticism from members of Parliament of all political parties, because the public have a right to know if what they’re seeing is news and is impartial, or is not.”

She warned: “One of the challenges that that then creates for public service broadcasters is that people lose trust in the news altogether.

“Now that is then a challenge for the whole country, because the way in which people consume their news has polarised and fragmented, and people are reading different accounts, those shared spaces, and that shared understanding that is the basis of democracy is fracturing.”

She added: “I think that is very, very dangerous, a very dangerous position for a country to be in, and it’s something that we intend to robustly defend, is the impartiality of our news.”

Lord Mandelson is the grandson of former Labour home and foreign secretary Herbert Morrison.

His work as a political fixer for the Labour Party has seen him go on to spend five decades at the heart of Labour politics.

He became the Labour Party’s director of communications in 1985 before being elected as a MP in Hartlepool in 1992.

He was made director of Labour’s landslide 1997 general election campaign and was then handed a role in Sir Tony Blair’s government.

He then became trade secretary and Northern Ireland secretary, but had to resign from both roles.

He then stood down as an MP to become the European Commissioner for the UK before returning to parliament in 2008 as a peer.

He served as a business secretary under Gordon Brown and when Labour were kicked out of government in 2010, he co-founded a lobbying firm.

Last December, he was appointed to be the British ambassador to the US.

Sir Keir Starmer will face his weekly questions in the Commons at midday.

He will be grilled by the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, and other MPs for the first time since his major cabinet reshuffle.

He will likely face questions on Peter Mandelson, as well as his controversial meeting with the Israeli president this afternoon and Labour’s deputy leadership content.

Defence Secretary John Healey said Russia’s actions were “reckless, unprecedented and dangerous” after Poland shot down multiple Russian drones that entered its territory.

In remarks before talks in London with defence officials from Poland, Italy, France and Germany, Mr Healey said the meeting was taking place against the backdrop of “escalating Russian aggression”.

He said: “Last night Putin took this aggression to a new level of hostility. A violation of Polish airspace deep enough for Warsaw airport to be closed and Nato jets forced directly to shoot down Russia’s drones while, of course, the attacks on Ukraine continue to intensify.”

He added: “Russia’s actions are reckless, unprecedented and dangerous. We totally condemn these attacks, and we say to President Putin: Your aggression only strengthens the unity between Nato nations.”