The latest tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files — released by the US Department of Justice in late January/early 2026 — has detonated a political bomb in Britain, engulfing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour government in what multiple outlets call his gravest crisis yet. At the centre: Peter Mandelson (Lord Mandelson), the veteran Labour operator nicknamed "Prince of Darkness" for his Blair-era machinations, whom Starmer appointed UK Ambassador to the United States in late 2024 despite longstanding public knowledge of his ties to the convicted sex offender and financier Epstein.

New emails, photos, bank records, and documents reveal a far darker, more intimate relationship than previously admitted: Mandelson calling Epstein his "best pal" in a 2003 birthday book, writing post-2008 conviction that he "thought the world of" him and advising him to "fight for early release"; suggesting an Italian villa for Epstein's "guests" (with quotes hinting at the underage victims Epstein procured); allegations of passing market-sensitive government information during the 2008-09 financial crisis while Business Secretary under Gordon Brown; payments from Epstein totalling around £55,000 to Mandelson and his husband (one email suggests framing a £10k payment as a "loan" to avoid declaration); photos of Mandelson in underwear with a (redacted) woman/girl; yacht images; and more.

Starmer sacked Mandelson as ambassador in September 2025 after earlier revelations, claiming he had been misled about the "depth and darkness" of the relationship — Mandelson allegedly lied repeatedly during vetting. Starmer publicly apologised to Epstein's victims: "I am sorry... sorry that so many people with power failed you." He insisted he never met Epstein and knew only of a superficial prior acquaintance.

The fallout escalated rapidly: UK police launched a misconduct in public office investigation, raiding two Mandelson properties. Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party, the House of Lords, and the Privy Council. Then, on February 8, 2026, Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney (a longtime Mandelson protégé who advised on the appointment) resigned, taking responsibility: "The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong."

This isn't ancient history — it's a fresh scandal exposing how elite networks operate. Mandelson's Epstein links were public knowledge for years (black book entries, flights, post-conviction contact), yet Starmer prioritised his "networks," "dark arts," and contacts in Trump's Washington over basic vetting and judgment. Critics argue the appointment was no accident: Mandelson's comfort in morally flexible billionaire circles was the feature, not the bug, especially for navigating elite access and lobbying post-government (his firm Global Counsel had ties like Palantir).

Deeper Implications: Elite Hypocrisy and Institutional Failure

From a conservative or iconoclastic viewpoint, this reeks of the same rot conservatives have decried for decades: unaccountable elites protecting their own, lecturing the public on morality while cosying up to predators. Labour under Starmer campaigned on integrity, change, and anti-corruption after Tory scandals — yet handed one of the most prestigious diplomatic posts to a twice-disgraced figure with Epstein baggage. Mandelson's history includes multiple resignations over financial impropriety; appointing him screamed poor judgment or worse — wilful blindness in pursuit of insider access.

The Epstein connection amplifies it: Epstein wasn't just a financier; he was a convicted sex offender whose operation involved trafficking minors for leverage over the powerful. Continuing friendship post-conviction, sharing sensitive info (potentially compromising national interests during a crisis), and receiving funds raise serious questions of influence, blackmail risk, or outright corruption. Mandelson's alleged leaks during the financial meltdown — when markets were teetering — could have been exploited for personal or client gain.

Starmer's defence — "I was lied to" — rings hollow to sceptics. Vetting should have flagged the known post-2008 contact; choosing a political fixer over a career diplomat (replacing Karen Pierce) telegraphed priorities. His apology to victims feels performative when his government elevated someone so entangled.

Could This Bring the Tyrant Down?

"The tyrant" Starmer, reflecting widespread frustration with his governance style, U-turns, and perceived authoritarian leanings on issues like free speech or policy, is under intense pressure. Outlets describe it as his "most perilous moment," with Labour MPs questioning judgment, anonymous calls for resignation, and whispers of "end of days." McSweeney's exit buys time by showing accountability at the top team, but it doesn't erase Starmer's direct role in the appointment.

Realistically, it probably won't topple him outright — not yet. Labour holds a massive parliamentary majority from 2024; it's only ~18 months into the term. No direct wrongdoing by Starmer himself (unlike Mandelson's probe). Allies like Gordon Brown defend his "integrity." Public outrage is high, but translating to existential threat requires sustained pressure: further file drops, police findings implicating broader Labour figures, by-election losses, or internal revolt leading to a leadership challenge.

That said, damage is severe: eroded trust, distraction from agenda, fuel for opposition (Tories, Reform), and reputational hit as "ethical" government. If the misconduct probe yields charges against Mandelson — or reveals vetting failures closer to No. 10 — it could snowball. Ongoing Epstein file releases keep the story alive. In a low-trust era, this symbolises everything wrong with insulated elites: power networks trumping public service.

Conservatives and iconoclasts have long warned about this nexus — globalist elites, unexamined associations, the normalisation of moral compromise for "access." Starmer's crisis underscores why voters grow cynical: the system protects its own until forced otherwise. Mandelson's fall is overdue; Starmer's survival hinges on whether this scandal forces real reckoning or just another elite escape hatch. The public deserves better than apologies after the fact.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/07/blackmail-stick-with-me-or-its-nigel-farage-starmer-threatens-labour-as-he-grasps-for-survival/