Arabic version: مستشار الأخلاقيات يرفض التحقيق في تعيين رئيس الوزراء لماندلسون

The prime minister’s independent ethics adviser has declined to investigate Sir Keir Starmer regarding the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the US ambassador. According to BBC News, Sir Laurie Magnus stated that the documents related to the appointment indicated that the appropriate process for a political appointee was followed.

This decision comes after the Conservative Party requested an investigation, citing concerns over what they described as serious deficiencies in the released documentation regarding Mandelson’s appointment. They alleged a potential cover-up, particularly after the government published files concerning Lord Mandelson’s past associations.

In his response, Sir Laurie confirmed he found no sufficient grounds for an inquiry. He noted that the available documentation suggested that the relevant processes had been adhered to during the appointment.

The Conservatives had pointed to warnings received by Sir Keir about the reputational risks associated with Mandelson’s connections to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite these warnings, Sir Keir has expressed that he was unaware of the full extent of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein when the appointment was made in December 2024. He later acknowledged the decision as a mistake and apologized to Epstein’s victims.

The Liberal Democrats have also urged Sir Keir to self-refer to Sir Laurie to assess whether he breached the Ministerial Code by assuring Parliament that due process was followed. Lord Mandelson was sacked from his ambassadorial role in September 2025 following new revelations about his relationship with Epstein. He has since resigned from the Labour Party and is currently under police investigation for allegations related to misconduct in public office, although he maintains his innocence regarding any criminal actions.