10 Feb 2026
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper and Harpenden’s Victoria Collins have responded to the Mandelson scandal surrounding Prime Minister Kier Starmer.
They were speaking in the wake of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar calling on the PM to step down for his part in appointing Peter Mandelson as United States ambassador in December 2024 despite being aware that he had a relationship with child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson has since been accused of leaking confidential information and Downing Street emails to Epstein while serving in Gordon Brown’s Government.
Victoria said: “The Mandelson scandal is an absolute shambles. It’s an insult to Epstein’s victims and to victims of sexual abuse. Clearly Starmer’s judgment is in question, and it’s only right that we have a statutory public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein and his influence at the ‘heart of the British political establishment’, to uncover the truth and get justice for victims. We need a Prime Minister who can focus on delivering for Britain, not caught up in scandal.”
Daisy added: “The country needs a Prime Minister and a government that is focused on tackling the cost of living and fixing our NHS and social care. They don’t need a Prime Minister who is caught up with his own political survival, whilst the British public pays the price. That is why we Liberal Democrats have been calling for the Prime Minister to hold a confidence vote of his Labour MPs this week. And if he loses it, to step aside.”
Meanwhile, St Albans Labour councillors have also spoken out about the scandal.
Cllr Emma Turnbull, Labour group leader at SADC said: “The recent headlines on Mandelson are clearly concerning, and it’s right that they’re being looked into properly.
“Our focus as Labour Party councillors has to remain on delivering for our residents in London Colney and holding the council’s Liberal Democrat administration to account for its performance. We plan to get on with this job under the leadership of Keir Starmer.”
File photo of Kier Starmer by Toby Shepheard.
