Daily Politics from the New Statesman What did Starmer already know about Mandelson and Epstein?
Feb 6, 2026
Jim Pickard, deputy political editor at the Financial Times and long-term investigator of the Mandelson–Epstein story, joins to unpack his reporting. He describes how DOJ files and tips exposed payments and flights, what privileged government information was allegedly shared, and why earlier reporting failed to stick. The conversation explores political fallout, corruption mechanics, and Mandelson's influence.
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Longstanding Epstein–Mandelson Link Exposed
- Jim Pickard tracked Mandelson's long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein via JP Morgan emails and DOJ files.
- The documents revealed hospitality, payments, and private exchanges that contradicted Mandelson's public denials.
Don't Assume A Story Is Finished
- Journalists should keep probing past reports rather than assuming a story is exhausted.
- Asking subjects directly on high-profile platforms can force accountability when print coverage stalls.
Starmer's January Exchange Foreshadowed Trouble
- At a January 2024 press event Tom asked Keir Starmer about Mandelson's stay at Epstein's house and Starmer replied, "you know more about this than I do."
- That exchange foreshadowed later questions about what Starmer knew before appointing Mandelson ambassador.