Files Show Starmer Was Warned of Mandelson-Epstein 'Reputational Risks'

Newly released UK government files show Prime Minister Keir Starmer received a formal “due diligence checklist” in December 2024 warning of reputational risks tied to Peter Mandelson’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to documents reviewed by multiple news organizations.¹

The checklist, prepared by civil servants ahead of Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to Washington, included references to a 2019 JPMorgan internal report that described Epstein as maintaining a “particularly close relationship” with Mandelson.¹ The bank’s report was compiled as part of JPMorgan’s own review of its dealings with Epstein.

Starmer appointed Mandelson to the ambassadorship despite the warnings contained in the briefing materials.² The appointment, announced in early 2025, placed one of Britain’s most prominent political figures in the country’s most important diplomatic posting.

Contents of the Checklist

The due diligence document flagged several areas of concern regarding Mandelson’s prior association with Epstein, including visits to Epstein’s properties and communications that continued after Epstein’s 2008 sex offense conviction in Florida.¹

The JPMorgan report referenced in the checklist was produced during an internal compliance review at the bank. It characterized the Epstein-Mandelson connection as one that could draw public scrutiny if Mandelson were placed in a high-profile government role.¹

PBS News reported that the files indicated civil servants had conducted the due diligence review as standard procedure for senior appointments, and that the results were communicated to Starmer’s office through established government channels.²

The documents did not indicate that Starmer requested additional information or raised questions about the findings before proceeding with the appointment.

Political Fallout

The release of the files has intensified scrutiny of the decision-making process within Downing Street. Opposition lawmakers called for a full accounting of what Starmer knew and when he knew it regarding the extent of Mandelson’s Epstein ties.³

Courthouse News Service reported that the document release followed persistent freedom of information requests by journalists and advocacy groups seeking transparency about the appointment process.³

Mandelson has previously stated that his interactions with Epstein were limited and that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities. However, the JPMorgan report and other materials in the files suggest a relationship that banking compliance officials considered significant enough to document.¹

Broader Context

The disclosure comes amid broader international fallout from the release of Epstein-related documents under the U.S. Epstein Files Transparency Act. Names of associates across multiple countries have surfaced in FBI investigative files, witness interviews, and financial records released in recent months.

In the UK, Metropolitan Police have faced calls to investigate Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein following earlier revelations about emails exchanged between the two men after Epstein’s Florida conviction.³

The government files released this week represent the first official confirmation that Starmer was personally briefed on the risks before making the appointment. Previous reporting had suggested the prime minister’s office was aware of Mandelson’s Epstein connections in general terms, but the due diligence checklist provides specific documentation of the warnings provided.¹

Starmer’s office did not respond to requests for comment from TIME regarding the contents of the checklist or the decision to proceed with Mandelson’s appointment despite the documented concerns.¹

References

1. TIME — “Files Show Starmer Was Warned of Mandelson-Epstein Reputational Risks”
2. PBS News — “UK Files Reveal Starmer Briefed on Mandelson’s Epstein Ties Before Appointment”
3. Courthouse News Service — “Released UK Government Files Detail Mandelson-Epstein Warnings”