Green Party leader Zack Polanski has dramatically escalated calls for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign, insisting that the Peter Mandelson scandal has dealt a severe blow to democratic trust and public faith in politics. Polanski described Starmer’s decision to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States as a “catastrophic level of misjudgment”, arguing it warrants the prime minister’s departure.

Speaking to the Press Association while campaigning in Gorton and Denton ahead of the 26 February by-election, Polanski said the controversy was emblematic of a broken political system and deep public frustration with the Labour government.

“You only have to walk these streets for a few minutes to hear people’s anger,” he said, asserting that Starmer “needs to go.”

Polanski accused Starmer of knowing that Mandelson retained a close friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, yet still pressed ahead with the appointment, allegedly valuing Mandelson’s supposed ability to influence then‑U.S. President Donald Trump. “That’s a catastrophic level of misjudgment,” Polanski said, framing the issue as more than a single error but part of a pattern of poor decisions.

“It wasn’t just one mistake, with Keir Starmer we’ve seen misjudgment after misjudgment,” he added.

A Scandal With Growing Legal And Political Consequences:

The controversy has expanded far beyond Polanski’s criticism. British police have now searched two properties linked to Mandelson as part of a criminal investigation into alleged misconduct in public office connected to his Epstein ties. Officers executed searches in Wiltshire and Camden, uncovering material linked to allegations that Mandelson may have shared sensitive government information, including emails dating back to the 2009 financial crisis.

Mandelson has resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords and has not been arrested, but remains the subject of the inquiry.

Separately, the Liberal Democrats have urged the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate Mandelson over potential insider trading, arguing that leaked government information could have been used for financial gain, a charge the FCA has declined to comment on due to the ongoing police investigation.

The scale of the controversy has prompted a raft of calls for greater transparency. Starmer has vowed to release files relating to Mandelson’s vetting and appointment process, telling Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee that “a very significant volume of material” will need review, even as some documents cannot yet be published due to the police probe.

Starmer Under Fire From All Sides, Including Within Labour, Pressure On Starmer Is Mounting Across The Political Spectrum:

• Labour MPs and factions have criticised the prime minister’s judgment. An unnamed MP told Sky News that Starmer “needs a miracle” to salvage his leadership, while others said early “red flags” were ignored when Mandelson was appointed.
• Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell countered Green attacks, warning that splitting the progressive vote could allow Reform UK and figures like Nigel Farage to gain ground.
• Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner reportedly warned Starmer in 2024 that appointing Mandelson would be a mistake because of his Epstein ties, yet her advice was not heeded.
• Former prime minister Gordon Brown defended Starmer’s integrity but conceded that leadership speculation is “serious” and urged enhanced vetting procedures.

Across party lines, opposition leaders are seizing on the crisis. Conservative figures have called for Starmer to face confidence votes, while Reform UK and others frame the issue as evidence of Labour’s broader failings.

Epstein Ties, Public Outrage, And The Crisis Of Confidence:

The roots of the scandal go back to emails and Justice Department files suggesting an ongoing association between Mandelson and Epstein long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. These revelations have galvanised public anger and revived scrutiny over how political elites are screened and monitored.

Starmer has apologised directly to Epstein’s victims, stating he believed Mandelson’s characterisation of the relationship but was blindsided by its true extent. Mandelson was sacked from his ambassadorial post in 2025 once additional damaging emails became public.

The controversy has spiralled into the heart of British politics, raising questions about Starmer’s leadership, vetting procedures, and political patronage culture.

Timeline Of Key Events:

Political Fallout And What Comes Next, As The Scandal Unfolds:

• Starmer’s leadership is under intense scrutiny, with internal party challenges and public polling showing declining confidence.
• Calls for full disclosure of communications between Starmer, his advisers, and Mandelson are growing, invoking parliamentary mechanisms to force transparency.
• The scandal’s timing, just before key local and by-elections, could reshape electoral battles, making the next general election more volatile.

Polanski’s demand for resignation, once seen as fringe, now sits amid serious political and legal questions threatening to define British politics well into 2026. The crisis illustrates not only a potential leadership challenge but also deep fractures in public trust, fractures that extend far beyond a single appointment.

Analysis: Why Starmer Is Vulnerable.

1. Ethical Failings: Appointing someone with known Epstein ties undermines Starmer’s credibility.
2. Poor Judgment and Vetting: Ignoring internal warnings exposes systemic weaknesses.
3. Electoral Consequences: By-elections in Gorton and Denton could see Labour lose ground to Reform UK or the Greens.
4. Internal Party Divisions: The growing split between supportive and critical MPs could trigger a formal leadership challenge.

Constitutional Mechanisms For PM Removal.

• Parliamentary confidence vote: Losing triggers a general election unless another government forms within 14 days.
• Party leadership challenge: Labour MPs and members could vote to replace Starmer.
• Voluntary resignation: Often preferable to drawn-out battles.
• Electoral pressure: Declining poll ratings and by-election losses can make remaining in office untenable.

Precedents:

• James Callaghan (1979): Lost parliamentary confidence, triggering elections.
• Theresa May (2019): Resigned under party pressure before a confidence vote.

Conclusion:

The Mandelson scandal exposes a crisis of judgment, ethics, and public trust at the heart of British politics. Starmer’s handling of the appointment, the ongoing police investigation, and the mounting political pressure has created unprecedented turbulence, testing not only his premiership but Labour’s credibility as a whole.

“I don’t think you can understate how serious the situation and the peril is that the prime minister finds himself in,” said Starmer’s former political director, Luke Sullivan. “He’s fighting for his premiership.”

With by-elections, police investigations, and public outrage converging, the coming weeks may prove decisive for Starmer’s future, and for the broader question of trust in UK politics.