Starmer's Mandelson Appointment Under Fire

0:00On April 20, U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keer Starmer is under fire for appointing Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. Even though the peer failed security betting over ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. Starmer told Parliament that full due process was followed, but now he's blaming foreign office officials for not sharing those red flags with him. No tenences. Starmer never meant to mislead anyone, and he's set to update MPs today with the full details he claims he was denied. Last week, he effectively sacked the foreign office's top official, Sir Ali Robbins, after it came out. Mandelson got high-level clearance despite the failures. The mess has opposition leaders, and even some in labor calling for Starmer to quit, especially with local elections looming in May that could spell. Trouble for the party. Critics say it hurts U.K. U.S. ties and national security. A letter from November 11th, 2024, by former cabinet secretary Lord Simon Case, warned

1:00to run clearances before confirming political. Picks like this, but officials say the usual practice was to do it after appointment. The government's now changing that rule. Starmer calls the whole thing unforgivable, and plans to lay it all out crystal clear and parliament today, pushing for total transparency while allies. Bet he rides out the storm.