Kemi Badenoch Tory Leader: Calls Starmer “Not Fit To Lead” Our Country

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch

Fresh documents released to Parliament have reignited a political storm around Keir Starmer, after it emerged the Prime Minister approved a £75,000 pay-off for former ambassador Peter Mandelson despite warnings over his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The files show officials warned Downing Street that Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein posed a “reputational risk” before he was appointed to the senior diplomatic role.

Despite those warnings, Starmer pushed ahead with the appointment — a decision that has now triggered fierce criticism from the opposition.

Tory Leader Calls Starmer “Not Fit To Lead”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the newly released documents raise serious questions about the Prime Minister’s judgment and urged Labour MPs to consider removing him from office.

“There are not enough Conservative MPs to remove the Prime Minister,” she said. “Labour MPs now need to consider their conscience and ask if this man is fit to run our country.”

Badenoch accused Starmer of failing to be honest with Parliament about what he knew regarding Mandelson’s ties to Epstein.

Warnings Ignored Before Appointment

According to the documents, the Cabinet Office warned that Mandelson maintained contact with Epstein even after the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.

Officials noted the Labour peer’s relationship with Epstein continued between 2009 and 2011 — including reports that Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s New York residence.

The briefing warned appointing such a politically connected figure could expose the Prime Minister personally if problems emerged.

Secret Briefings Before Security Checks

The files also reveal Mandelson was reportedly briefed on sensitive government material before his full security vetting had been completed.

The decision has been blamed by some insiders on senior civil servants within the Foreign Office, though the final severance payment was approved with the knowledge of the Treasury and senior ministers.

The £75,000 settlement was described by officials as a “special severance package” designed to resolve Mandelson’s departure quickly and avoid a costly legal dispute.

Labour Admits Appointment Was A Mistake

Government minister Darren Jones told MPs that Starmer had accepted responsibility for the decision and acknowledged it had been an error.

He said Mandelson had been removed from his position once leaked emails obtained by the US Department of Justice revealed the extent of his continued contact with Epstein.

Jones said the payout was agreed to prevent a potentially expensive employment tribunal claim that Mandelson’s lawyers warned could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Investigation Still Under Way

Some documents linked to the case remain withheld after police launched an investigation into allegations that Mandelson may have committed misconduct in public office.

The files released so far represent only the first batch of material connected to the controversy, with thousands more documents expected to be examined as Parliament continues its scrutiny of the affair.

For now, the disclosures have added to mounting pressure on Starmer as critics argue the episode reveals serious flaws in the government’s vetting process and leadership judgment.

SOURCE

How original. Its like she is studying on how to be an opposition leader.