No10's circular firing squad over Mandelson: How Starmer's closest aides McSweeney, Powell and Doyle all tried to escape the blame for disastrous appointment
Senior No10 figures close to Keir Starmer have blamed each other for the decision to hire Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite his known links to billionaire child abuser Jeffrey Epstein.
In documents released today national security adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to suggest that Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's former chief of staff was at fault.
In a legal grilling included in the trove of Mandelson files he said he thought the appointment was 'weirdly rushed'.
He also said he flagged 'concerns' about Lord Mandelson - a fellow former Tony Blair confidant - and his 'reputation' with McSweeney at the time and was told they had been 'addressed'.
His version of events appeared to be backed up by Matthew Doyle. In his own grilling by general counsel Mike Ostheimer, the former comms chief said Mr Powell had been 'particularly cautious' about the appointment.
He also said he had also had some 'back and forth' with Mr McSweeney over Mandelson's job in private meetings.
All three men have been criticised for their role in Mr Mandelson's appointment.
Mr McSweeney quit the government last month in the fallout from the revelations about Mandelson's deep friendship with Epstein, with Mr Doyle having already left.
But Mr Powell remains in post as NSA, playing a key role in the deal to surrender the Chagos Islands among other work.
In documents released today national security adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to suggest that Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's former chief of staff was at fault
In a legal grilling included in the trove of Mandelson files he said he thought the appointment was 'weirdly rushed'
He also said he flagged 'concerns' about Lord Mandelson - a fellow former Tony Blair confidant - and his 'reputation' with McSweeney (above) at the time and was told they had been 'addressed'.
Sir Keir was accused of rewarding Mandelson for 'betraying' Britain today as damning papers about the Labour grandee's appointment were released
When McSweeney quit, his allies tried to pin the blame on Mr Powell, with one telling the Telegraph: 'Morgan didn't make the appointment, so while he has made an honourable decision on accountability, he shouldn't be the one taking responsibility.
'Let's see what those who pushed for Mandelson's hiring or tried to block his sacking will do now they can't hide behind Morgan.'
Sir Keir was accused of rewarding Mandelson for 'betraying' Britain today as damning papers about the Labour grandee's appointment were released.
Bombshell documents show peer was handed a £75,000 payoff when he was sacked as US ambassador over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The disgraced former Cabinet minister had apparently been demanding £547,000 compensation for losing his £161,000 a year job and threatening legal action.
Despite the PM claiming in Parliament that Mandelson 'lied' during his vetting, the government privately assessed was there was no evidence of 'misconduct in role that would give rise to normal disciplinary proceedings'.
Foreign Office permanent secretary Olly Robbins wrote of the package: 'This represents good value for money.' Other officials congratulated each other on getting the sum - including £34,000 severance as well as cash in lieu of notice - 'so low'.
Extraordinarily, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, responded that he was 'happy' to sign the payment off.
Meanwhile, the papers published by the government confirm that Sir Keir was aware when he appointed Mandelson in December 2024 that his friendship with the financier continued after he was convicted.
In December 2024, a note from a senior aide to the premier stated he and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had expressed a 'preference for a political candidate' to be Washington envoy and Mandelson was the 'lead candidate'.
It said the Director of Communications - Tim Allan at the time - had been 'satisfied' with Mandelson's responses about his relationship with Epstein.
Mr Powell's version of events appeared to be backed up by Matthew Doyle. In his own grilling the former comms chief said Mr Powell had been 'particularly cautious' about the appointment
A three-page 'due diligence' report supplied on December 11 2024 to Sir Keir - who dodged facing MPs on the revelations in the Commons today - flagged the ties between Mandelson and Epstein.
It referred to reports of Epstein's 'particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson' and said their contact continued through the 2000s.
The summary stated: 'After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was Business Minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government.
'Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's House while he was in jail in June 2009.'
It also mentioned that in 2014 Mandelson 'agreed to be a ''founding citizen'' of an ocean conservation group founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, and funded by Epstein.'
Downing Street sources insisted the ongoing police investigation into Mandelson means it is unable to release details about what questions the peer was asked.
