NIGEL Farage has claimed that Sir Keir Starmer “ignored the warnings” about Lord Peter Mandelson, who was sacked from his role as ambassador to the US this week.
Dithering on Thursday amid a deepening scandal into his .
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has now hit out at Sir Keir Starmer
Starmer finally sacked Lord Mandelson yesterday
Lord Mandelson was removed from his post after emails emerged in which the peer offered support to Epstein even as he faced jail for sex offences.
Sir Keir, who had said he had “full confidence” in Lord Mandelson before the emails were published, now faces questions over what he knew and when about the ex-ambassador’s ties to Epstein.
Speaking as part of a Reform UK press conference in Caerphilly, Mr Farage said: “I’m not saying Mandy has done a bad job over there but I think we have the good fortune of a pro-British presidency.
“Look, Peter Mandelson – he’s a very clever bloke, he’s a very knowledgeable bloke.
“But, clearly, he does have one or two demons. Twice before he’s been removed from Cabinet. This is the third time he’s been removed.”
Mandelson told The Sun on that he “deeply regretted” any association with Epstein and said he felt conned by the paedophile.
We then published emails showing the relationship continued after Epstein’s crimes had emerged.
The Sun revealed bombshell emails of the peer coaching the late disgraced financier through his conviction for soliciting prostitution.
The PM fired the peer with immediate effect after a letter showed him calling the .
Mr Farage said: “I just don’t know what the intelligence briefing that Morgan McSweeney, the right-hand man to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister got.
“But you sort of begin to get the feeling that the PM ignored the warnings, carried on without really having much support in his own party, and then it took him quite a long time to actually remove Lord Mandelson.
“So, it’s kind of left the PM and McSweeney, his right-hand man, in a very difficult position with their own parliamentary party.”
A Foreign Office statement yesterday said: “In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as Ambassador.
“The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.
“In particular Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.
“In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes he has been withdrawn as Ambassador with immediate effect.”
Calls for his departure came as holiday on Epstein’s private island showing Mandelson dressed in just a bathrobe.
The Prime Minister insisted that “due process was followed” when he was appointed at the end of last year.
But Downing Street later repeatedly avoided giving a straight answer on how much the PM knew about his close links to – insisting that “extensive vetting” had taken place.
Mandelson’s words to Epstein can be read in a birthday book from 2003 which was compiled by British convicted sex trafficker
He also called Epstein “mysterious” and “intelligent, sharp-witted man”.
Tory leader said: “Mandelson might have gone but, just as with , Starmer dithered when he needed to be decisive.
“Time and again he puts party above country. He has no backbone and no convictions. There are now serious questions over what Starmer knew and when. We deserve to know.”
Earlier, Labour MPs demanding the party grandee be removed from post after he described paedophile financier as his “best pal”.
