During a heated Commons session, Shadow Minister Neil O’Brien accused Starmer of personally deciding to appoint Peter Mandelson—described as “the best friend of the world’s most notorious paedophile”—as UK ambassador to Washington despite being warned about Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein and his stay at Epstein’s home while he was jailed. Minister Darren Jones responded that Epstein’s crimes and Mandelson’s behaviour were “despicable” and contrary to the government’s values, stressing the administration’s commitment to tackling men’s violence against women and girls.