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Peter Mandelson - Epstein . Should Starmer sack him?

(188 Posts)
Iam64 Wed 10-Sept-25 19:23:30

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sec from girls as yiung as 14. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison
Mandelson continued his friendship/business dealings with Epstein. The Telegraph reports when business secretary, Mandelson brokered a deal with Epstein after the conviction for child sex offences.
I heard PM today apologising, wishing he’d never met Epstein. He went on to apologise to the victims, he hadn’t noticed abuse of girls possibly because he’s gay and was there with his partner.
My view? How was he appointed? I knew about his links with Epstein which were always going to return to haunt him

Casdon Wed 10-Sept-25 21:01:19

Don’t worry Iam64, it was a broader post, not only about Mandelson , which is the current pressing issue for the UK.

The whole saga is going to run and run long after Mandelson has gone I’m sure, the whole thing makes me feel ill at the thought.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:59:26

“This would never happen in Britain”

I wonder why not? I think I know. Sickening. He has to go.

Iam64 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:56:43

Casdon, apologies. I didn’t find your .OP so started this. I’d have continued yours if I’d found it.

Iam64 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:52:54

Daily mail has emails from PM to Epstein before his conviction in 2008. “Fight for early release “
“Your friends stay with you and love your”
“Everything can be turned into an opportunity”
“I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened “
“I can still barely understand it. It just couldn’t happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient , fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can “”

“The whole thing has been years of torture and now you have to show the world how big a person you are and how strong “

P.M setting out his total lack of understanding of the abuse of minors by adult men. Or does he simply take the view that 14 year olds can give consent
He has to go

Casdon Wed 10-Sept-25 20:51:04

I’m attaching yesterday’s thread too, because I think it adds to the discussion, particularly the CNN analysis.
www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1351510-Epstein-Birthday-Book-Gosh

Norah Wed 10-Sept-25 20:45:38

Galaxy

I knew without one moment of doubt that the Mandelson appointment would end in disaster. I think i said so on the last thread we had on him.
I didn't need to consult MI5 or see any emails.
Either I am a political genius or more likely this was entirely predictable.

This!

Galaxy Wed 10-Sept-25 20:43:48

Thanks Iam64, I could run the country if I could only be bothered to get off the sofa.
If the latest reports in the Sun are true it is very bad. Mandelson advising him to fight for early release.

Casdon Wed 10-Sept-25 20:41:30

I meant only that Mandelson was unlikely to be involved in sexual liaisons with them GrannyGravy13, or at least, I haven’t heard anything in the messages or other documents disclosed so far to say he was,
Please don’t think I’m trying to defend anybody, I’m not, just trying to understand what was happening and why.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:41:01

Someone (somewhere) was heard to say “it’s like Rotherham/Rochdale for the elites”.
Sickening.

Iam64 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:35:05

By your friends shall we judge you,

Galaxy, yes your a political genius

Iam64 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:33:38

I don’t understand why being a gay man would mean you didn’t notice the ever present young females. Or that you would continue a business and personal relationship with a man convicted of soliciting sex from 14 year olds.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:32:57

Casdon

Mandelson has been up front about his friendship with Mandelson and visits to his properties all along though FriedGreenTomatoes2, so that was not something new to Starmer.
As a gay man, he would have been less suspicious in Epstein’s circles, presumably. I think the issue now is the nature of the birthday message he sent him throws a different light on their relationship to what he had revealed previously. As that birthday messages book was in the Epstein vaults, it’s unlikely that MI5 knew the exact nature of it, surely?

Being a gay man does not make you blind to young underage girls around powerful men.

Casdon if that is PM’s excuse he is more of a snake than I have always thought.

He has already been sacked twice from political positions.

Casdon Wed 10-Sept-25 20:32:46

Or maybe you just have spidey senses Galaxy?You were by no means the only one with reservations though.

I actually can’t think of many jobs more fraught with webs of deceit to trap you than being an ambassador to the USA at the moment - I pity the poor soul that is the next one.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:30:26

Galaxy

I knew without one moment of doubt that the Mandelson appointment would end in disaster. I think i said so on the last thread we had on him.
I didn't need to consult MI5 or see any emails.
Either I am a political genius or more likely this was entirely predictable.

Yes!

I felt the same.

Galaxy Wed 10-Sept-25 20:26:52

I knew without one moment of doubt that the Mandelson appointment would end in disaster. I think i said so on the last thread we had on him.
I didn't need to consult MI5 or see any emails.
Either I am a political genius or more likely this was entirely predictable.

Casdon Wed 10-Sept-25 20:19:38

Iam64

As FGT says, Starmer would have had due diligence, he must have known this could blow up and it has

I suspect Starmer will know a lot more than any of us do about Trump’s involvement too - and Prince Andrew’s, probably others too. However, all the information that is being revealed through the birthday book is more pieces in a massively complex jigsaw of deceits, I doubt he knew what Mandelson had written.

windmill1 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:19:05

Donald Trump is due to visit the King next week and it's all under a cloud now.

I doubt Keir Starmer knows which way to turn.

Casdon Wed 10-Sept-25 20:14:57

Mandelson has been up front about his friendship with Mandelson and visits to his properties all along though FriedGreenTomatoes2, so that was not something new to Starmer.
As a gay man, he would have been less suspicious in Epstein’s circles, presumably. I think the issue now is the nature of the birthday message he sent him throws a different light on their relationship to what he had revealed previously. As that birthday messages book was in the Epstein vaults, it’s unlikely that MI5 knew the exact nature of it, surely?

Iam64 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:13:05

As FGT says, Starmer would have had due diligence, he must have known this could blow up and it has

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:11:43

Is it football managers full confidence?
Starmer I have full confidence in Louise Haigh
Starmer I have full confidence in Powell
& Tulip Siddiq …
Starmer I have full confidence in Angela Rayner

Most of the British population don't have confidence in Starmer.

Iam64 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:11:24

winter white, I genuinely don’t understand how Mandelson didn’t see what was going on. In addition Epstein had admitted and been convicted of soliciting sex from girls as young as 14.

Galaxy Wed 10-Sept-25 20:10:05

He should never have been appointed. This is the least surprising thing ever.
He should go immediately.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:07:52

My suspicion is that Starmer knew full well about Mandelson/Epstein and wanted him in Washington as a bridge to Trump - another known friend of Epstein.

I am sure MI5/6 are well aware of all this and would have briefed Starmer.

That Starmer knew nothing about all this is exceedingly doubtful! 🤷‍♀️

GrannyGravy13 Wed 10-Sept-25 20:06:12

How can you go to someone’s house/s and not notice the abundance of young girls 🤷‍♀️

Casdon Wed 10-Sept-25 20:05:24

This is just my own theory, but I think he will go after Trump’s state visit next week. Practically, as he will be involved in that, it would be difficult for him to go before then because of the significance of the visit and the potential slight to Trump.