British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that he does not intend to leave his post, despite mounting pressure within the Labour Party and calls for his resignation sparked by the scandal surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US and his long-standing ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
On Monday, Starmer issued a statement emphasizing that he was “not prepared to simply walk away” and would fight to fulfill his mandate. “I have no intention of resigning,” he said, addressing Labour MPs. “We have work to do.”
The scandal erupted after the release of another large batch of documents (the “Epstein files”) by the US Department of Justice in January 2026. They contain new details about the long-standing contacts between Peter Mandelson, an influential Labour politician and former associate of Tony Blair, and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among other things, they mention financial transfers of approximately $75,000 in 2003-2004, as well as correspondence indicating continued friendly relations even after Epstein’s conviction in 2008.
Starmer appointed Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US in 2024, despite his already known ties to Epstein. In September 2025, the prime minister dismissed him following the initial leaks of incriminating emails, and in February 2026, Mandelson left the Labour Party and the House of Lords.
Despite the resignations of close allies and criticism from parts of the party, several key ministers and potential rivals to the Labour Party leadership came out in support of Starmer, declaring the need to “stand together in this difficult time.”
The Prime Minister apologized to Epstein’s victims and promised to publish all documents related to Mandelson’s appointment, claiming he had “deceived” him about the depth of his ties to the financier.
Political analysts note that this is the most serious crisis in Starmer’s 19 months as prime minister. While his position within the party remains relatively stable thanks to his large parliamentary majority, further developments in the scandal could seriously undermine trust in the government.