The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has been urged to sack Peter Mandelson as the UK’s US ambassador following revelations of his close friendship and business dealings with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The call comes after Democrat members of the House Oversight Committee released Epstein’s 50th “birthday book,” which featured a handwritten note from Mandelson referring to Epstein as “my best pal.”

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer faced pressure from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to take action against Mandelson.

Badenoch demanded that all correspondence between Mandelson and Epstein be released, questioning whether the Prime Minister thought it was tenable for Mandelson to remain in post given the new information.

“Given this new information, does the prime minister really think it is tenable for our ambassador to remain in post?” Badenoch asked.

Mandelson has expressed deep regret over his association with Epstein, describing it as an “albatross around my neck” since his passing.

In an interview, Mandelson warned that more “very embarrassing” details of his friendship with Epstein would come out, but insisted he had never seen any wrongdoing.

“I regret very, very deeply indeed, carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done,” Mandelson said. He also expressed sympathy for the victims of Epstein’s crimes, stating that he felt for the women and other persons harmed by Epstein’s actions.

Despite the mounting pressure, Starmer has expressed confidence in Mandelson’s ability to perform his role as US ambassador.

“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,” Starmer said.

However, the controversy surrounding Mandelson’s appointment has raised questions about the vetting process and whether Starmer was aware of the extent of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein.

The controversy surrounding Mandelson’s appointment has significant implications for UK-US relations. As the key liaison between the two countries, Mandelson’s role is crucial in maintaining and strengthening bilateral ties. However, the revelations about his association with Epstein have sparked concerns about his suitability for the role.

Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, asked whether it was appropriate for Mandelson to remain in his position, given that the Trump administration may possess further embarrassing material on his dealings with Epstein.

Nigel Farage, an ally of Trump and the leader of Reform UK, has defended those who had dealings with Epstein, saying that it was almost impossible to avoid knowing him in American high society in the 1980s and 1990s.

“How could anybody in American high society in New York in the 80s and 90s not have had links with Epstein?” Farage asked. “His business empire, his social empire, his tentacles went very, very deep through American society.”

The controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador has sparked a heated debate about his suitability for the role.

As the UK government navigates this challenging situation, it remains to be seen whether Mandelson will retain his position or face repercussions for his past actions.

One thing is certain, however: the relationship between the UK and the US will continue to be a vital aspect of international diplomacy, and the ambassador’s role will be crucial in shaping this relationship.