Morgan McSweeney has admitted he got it wrong in backing Peter Mandelson for a top diplomatic role, describing revelations about his links to Jeffrey Epstein as “like a knife through my soul”.
The Prime Minister’s former chief of staff took responsibility for the controversial appointment, telling MPs that Keir Starmer had relied on his advice.
“I got it wrong,” he said, insisting he had initially understood Mandelson’s connection to Epstein to be a “passing acquaintance” — a characterisation he now says was far from the reality revealed in later disclosures.
His remarks came as the Prime Minister faces a critical Commons vote on whether to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the vetting process behind Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
Pressure has intensified following evidence from Philip Barton, the former top Foreign Office official, who warned the peer’s links to Epstein were a known “toxic hot potato” before the appointment was made.
Sir Philip also suggested Downing Street showed little appetite for scrutinising the vetting process, describing its approach as “uninterested” rather than dismissive, with a focus instead on pushing the appointment through quickly.
Mr McSweeney rejected suggestions that the decision had been driven by internal lobbying, insisting the Prime Minister had consulted widely and would not have proceeded had there been overwhelming opposition within government.
He also denied championing Mandelson out of personal loyalty, despite describing him as a political “hero”, arguing the appointment had been intended to serve the national interest.
The row has now escalated into a major political test for Sir Keir, with opposition parties pushing for the issue to be referred to the Privileges Committee — the same body that investigated Boris Johnson over the Partygate scandal.
Downing Street has sought to dismiss the move as a politically motivated “stunt” ahead of upcoming elections, with the Prime Minister urging Labour MPs to “stand together” against the motion.
Allies remain confident a large-scale rebellion can be avoided, with senior figures — including Gordon Brown — rallying support behind the leadership.
However, the controversy has exposed deep unease within Westminster over the handling of the appointment, particularly given the sensitivity of Epstein’s legacy in US political circles.
Sir Philip also told MPs that Karen Pierce had been “blindsided” by the decision, warning it risked undermining carefully built diplomatic relationships in Washington.
With MPs set to vote on whether to escalate the matter, the episode has become one of the most serious challenges yet to Sir Keir’s premiership — raising questions not only about judgment, but about the integrity of the vetting process at the highest levels of government.
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