British Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted to making a poor judgment regarding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington. The controversy escalated after revelations that Mandelson was appointed despite failing security vetting.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged Monday that he made the wrong judgment when he appointed Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, but said he would not have done so if he had known Mandelson failed security checks. Starmer is facing calls to resign after the revelation that Mandelson was given the job despite failing security vetting. Mandelson was fired nine months into the job over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.