The fact that Donald Trump is mentioned thousands of times — mostly in news clippings — in the latest release of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case has done little harm to the US president. It is another national leader, who never even met the late paedophile, who is in danger of being toppled by the shockwaves of the Epstein affair: Britain’s Sir Keir Starmer.
The prime minister seems on borrowed time after allegations that Lord Peter Mandelson — who Starmer appointed his ambassador to Washington — leaked confidential, market-sensitive information as a government minister in 2009 to Epstein, already a convicted sex offender. Documents suggest Mandelson also received $75,000 from the financier. Police are investigating possible misconduct in public office. Mandelson has denied wrongdoing and questioned the authenticity of messages related to the payments.
Appointing Mandelson, despite cautions against doing so, shows how anxious the government was to build bridges to the Trump administration. Though there were highly competent alternatives, Downing Street opted for a man seen as a political big hitter with lines into the White House, even though Mandelson had twice resigned from Labour governments over scandals.