Starmer faces calls for resignation as he apologises to Epstein victims for Mandelson appointment

Labour members are calling for his resignation

Starmer is facing criticism from members of his own party, who are angry over the Peter Mandelson scandal.

The PM started his speech by addressing the Lord Mandelson scandal, while he was scheduled to speak about the “Pride in Place” strategy in East Sussex.

The prime minister accused Mandelson of lying during the vetting process, and said that he gave the impression he “barely knew” the disgraced financier.

At his decision to appoint him as UK ambassador to Washington two years ago, Starmer said that he understands the “anger and frustration” of Labour MPs.

Rachael Maskell, representative of York Central, says she could hear “the real shock of everybody across the chamber” at the fact that Starmer knew of the association between Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein for “months”.

She told BBC Radio York that “we only need to read the country to realise that his position has now become untenable”.

“I think we're all quite shocked and appalled at what has been unveiled yesterday but we need to now move forward as a party to ensure that we can gain that support back.”

“I don't believe we can with the prime minister in place, so I think that it is inevitable that the Prime Minister is going to have to step down,” she added.

While according to conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, it’s a “question of when, not if” Starmer goes.

Stramer said that when asked about his relationship with Epstein, Mandelson’s answers were “intentionally intended to create the impression” that he barely knew him.

The prime minister said that he is focused on changing the country for the better, when asked if he would fight back if his party tried to remove him as leader.

Starmer said that he wants to release the Mandelson files “as quickly as possible”.