Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch on Thursday (5 February) accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to govern effectively, following the resignation of Peter Mandelson from the House of Lords over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson initially resigned from Labour to spare the party “further embarrassment”, but the controversy deepened after disclosures he leaked sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary under Gordon Brown.
Badenoch described the UK as “not being governed”, criticising Labour’s record since winning a large parliamentary majority.
She warned the government is distracted by leadership ambitions and accused cabinet secretaries of “not delivering anything at all”, arguing Britain is moving backwards while political scandals, such as the Mandelson affair, dominate headlines.
Starmer addressed the controversy in Hastings, East Sussex, saying: “None of us knew the depth and darkness” of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, and apologised to victims: “I am sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him… sorry that even now you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.”
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey called for a confidence vote, stating: “Keir Starmer should say ‘put up or shut up’. Let’s have a confidence vote now… so the government can start focusing on the change our country needs.”
ℹ️ Conservatives, Sky News, The Guardian
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