Sir Keir Starmer has apologised for “believing Mandelson’s lies”, as he faces calls for a no confidence vote from opposition parties.
The prime minister remained mired in controversy over the links between Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson, who he made US ambassador.
Having sacked Lord Mandelson as ambassador last year, Sir Keir completely severed his relationship with him following the latest Epstein files release.
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At a speech in Hastings, East Sussex, Sir Keir said: “The victims of Epstein have lived with trauma that most of us can barely comprehend, and they’ve had to relive it again and again.
“They have seen accountability delayed and too often denied to them.
“I want to say this: I am sorry.
“Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry that so many people with power failed you.
“Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him, and sorry that even now you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.”
The prime minister added: “But I also want to say this – in this country we will not look away.
“We will not shrug our shoulders, and we will not allow the powerful to treat justice as optional. We will pursue the truth.
“We will uphold the integrity of public life, and we will do everything within our power and in the interests of justice.
“To ensure accountability is delivered.
“That is what the public expects. That is what the victims deserve, and it is what I will do.”
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The previous day, Sir Keir seemed to confirm that Lord Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein came up in the disgraced former ambassador’s vetting.
The prime minister said: “What I meant was it has been known publicly for some time that they knew each other.
“And that is precisely why, when we were going through the appointment process for the ambassador role, we asked questions about the nature and extent of that relationship.
“And what I didn’t say yesterday, partly inhibited by the approach of the police, is that that is precisely why those questions were asked, questions about the nature and extent of the relationship, whether Mandelson had stayed, as was suggested, at Epstein’s premises.
“And the answers given to those questions were intentionally intended to create the impression that Mandelson barely knew Epstein.”
At roughly the same time as Sir Keir was speaking, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch was also on her feet.
She was asked by Sky News’ political correspondent Rob Powell what her message for Labour MPs was.
The leader of the opposition said “Britain is not being governed”, but added that she did not think an election was going to take place until 2029 – because “most Labour MPs know that they will not be coming back”.
“They can pick someone else or force the government to do better rather than putting their heads in the sand. That is what I’m asking them for,” Ms Badenoch said.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Keir Starmer should say ‘put up or shut up’. Let’s have a confidence vote now to see whether Labour MPs have any confidence in the prime minister, so the government can get past this one way or the other and start focusing on the change our country needs.”
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A limited number of Labour MPs have publicly called for Sir Keir to go.
Asked if Sir Keir should stay or go, veteran Labour MP Graham Stringer told Sky News: “I don’t think he’s got a very long future. It’s when and who not whether.”
And one anonymous minister was asked by Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby if the prime minister could survive.
They replied: “I don’t think so. Many in the party are beyond upset.”
