Facing a furious Labour backbench revolt, the Prime Minister concedes ground, allowing the ISC to scrutinize sensitive documents linking his envoy to Jeffrey Epstein.

The ghosts of the past have come back to haunt Downing Street, forcing Prime Minister Keir Starmer into a humiliating climbdown. In a tense standoff that threatened to derail his authority, Starmer has capitulated to demands from his own MPs and the opposition, agreeing that the powerful Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) will vet the explosive files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US Ambassador. The decision comes amid a firestorm over Mandelson’s links to disgrace pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The atmosphere in Westminster is toxic. Labour MPs, many of whom feel "bitterly betrayed" by the resurrection of the Prince of Darkness, were on the verge of a rebellion. "This is a matter of whether the police should be involved," declared Dame Emily Thornberry, capturing the mood of a party that feels its moral high ground has been eroded by the scandal.

The Epstein Connection

At the heart of the crisis are allegations that Mandelson may have leaked sensitive government information to Epstein during his time in Gordon Brown’s cabinet. The files, now the subject of a criminal investigation, have made Mandelson’s position untenable, leading to his resignation from the House of Lords.

• The Tory Maneuver: Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives tabled a "humble address" motion to force the release of the documents, a parliamentary trap that Labour could only escape by conceding to the ISC’s involvement.
• The Security Smokescreen: While the government argued for redactions based on national security, critics like Kevin Hollinrake warned against using security as a "smokescreen" to hide political embarrassment.

A Government on Defense

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, sent out to defend the government, found himself besieged. Instead of discussing his cancer plan, he was forced to admit the "sense of betrayal" within the party. It is a stark illustration of how the Mandelson affair has paralyzed the government's agenda.

Starmer may have bought himself time by involving the ISC, but the damage is done. The "dodgy" appointment has exposed a blind spot in his judgment, and with a criminal probe looming, the specter of Mandelson will loom over this government for months to come.