Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 5, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Starmer apologizes to Epstein victims for believing Mandelson’s ‘lies’ and appointing him US envoy
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Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech in St Leonards-on-Sea, south east England, on February 5, 2026. ( Peter Nicholls / POOL / AFP)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologizes to the victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for appointing his close friend Peter Mandelson as Britain’s top diplomat to Washington.
“The victims of Epstein have lived with trauma that most of us can barely comprehend,” he says in a speech in the southeastern town of Hastings.
“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.”
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