UK PM Keir Starmer ‘fighting for his political life’

British Prime Minister Keir Starr is under renewed pressure over his links to disgraced financier Peter Mandelson, the UK’s former ambassador to the UK. Jeffrey Epstein.

The yield, or interest rate, on the UK’s benchmark 10-year gilt was up 3 basis points at 4.575% at 9.44am London time on Thursday, fueling anger among Labor MPs over Starr’s appointment of Mandelson as ambassador in February. The Bank of England announced this Hold the interest rate.

Documents and emails released by the US Department of Justice in recent weeks and months shed new light on the relationship with Mandelson. Sex offender EpsteinAnd how their friendship continued even after Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Starmer told parliament on Wednesday that he had been misled about the “extreme depth and scope” of Epstein’s relationship with Mandelson, despite the links being highlighted during the vetting process before his appointment.

“He repeatedly lied to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein during his ambassadorship. I regret hiring him,” Starmer said, adding, “Had I known what I know now, he would never have been in government.”

Mandelson has tried to distance himself from Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while in custody on federal child sex trafficking charges. He said earlier this year that he regretted “ever knowing Epstein.”

On Thursday, Starr said at a press conference that he was “sorry for believing Mandelson’s lies and for hiring him.”

Mandelson Resigned from the Labor Party earlier this week. Starmer removed him as ambassador in September.

It’s the latest problem facing Starmer after the policy U-turn, continues Financial weakness And A slide from an opinion poll His prime ministership was already under pressure.

Political analysis firm Eurasia Group puts the probability of a rival leadership bid and Starr’s ouster this year at 80%, up from 65% previously.

“Kir Starr is fighting for his political life amid the deepest crisis for his premiership,” Mujtaba Rehman, managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group, said in a note on Thursday.

Rahman said disgruntled Labor members of parliament planned to delay any move against Starmer until after local special elections on February 26 and wider regional elections on May 7, saying “it’s not certain they can hold out much longer.”

“Although Starr survived for a short time, the Mandelson affair has caused him irreparable damage. Some Labor MPs describe it as the ‘tipping point’, others as the ‘last straw’,” Rahman noted.

A total of 81 Labor MPs are required for party leadership elections.

“While the prime minister insists he will fight any challenger, the current crisis makes it more likely he will fall on his sword” if Starr’s opponents muster 81 MPs, Rahman said.