1 / 11Less than two years after a landslide win, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under growing pressure. A fresh controversy linked to Peter Mandelson and the fallout from Jeffrey Epstein documents has pushed his leadership into focus. Here’s a look at why this crisis has escalated and what it means: (Image: Reuters)
2 / 11Who is Keir Starmer? Keir Starmer is a former human rights lawyer and ex-Director of Public Prosecutions. He became an MP in 2015 and led the Labour Party to a decisive victory in 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. (Image: Reuters)
3 / 11Why resignation calls have resurfaced: The latest pressure stems from his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US, despite long-standing concerns over Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein. (Image: Reuters)
4 / 11Starmer’s defence under scrutiny: Starmer has said he was unaware of the full extent of concerns during the appointment process and called the lapse “unforgivable.” Opposition leaders say this raises questions about his judgment. (Image: Reuters)
5 / 11Why the issue has escalated now: The controversy has widened into a broader political problem, with critics pointing to earlier assurances by Starmer that due process had been followed. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 11The Epstein files fallout: A major release of US documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein has renewed attention on his alleged links with British public figures, including Peter Mandelson and Prince Andrew. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 11What the Mandelson controversy involves: Documents suggest Mandelson may have shared sensitive government information with Epstein and maintained contact even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Mandelson denies wrongdoing but is now under investigation. (Image: Reuters)
8 / 11How the crisis unfolded: The controversy has built up over several months. In December 2024, Keir Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States despite existing scrutiny. By September 2025, Mandelson was removed after emails revealed more details about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. In January 2026, a fresh set of US documents linked to Epstein added to the pressure, followed by key resignations within the Prime Minister’s team in February. By April 2026, it emerged that Mandelson had failed a security vetting process before his appointment, raising further questions about oversight and due process. (Image: Reuters)
9 / 11Falling public support: Poll data shows declining approval ratings for Starmer. A mid-April survey found only 18% satisfaction versus 79% dissatisfaction, raising concerns within Labour about future elections.
10 / 11Can Starmer be forced to quit? Labour rules require support from around one-fifth of MPs to trigger a leadership challenge. That threshold has not been reached, and senior ministers continue to back him. (Image: Reuters)
11 / 11What happens if he steps down: There is no clear successor yet, but names being discussed include Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband, Andy Burnham and Shabana Mahmood. (Image: Reuters)
