Keir Starmer admits ‘mistake’ in Mandelson appointment

In his first public appearance since the publication of the documents, he told reporters in Northern Ireland: “The release of the information shows what was known.

“That led to further questions being asked.

“Unfortunately, because of the Metropolitan Police investigation, we can’t release that information yet.

“But that doesn’t take away from the fact that it was me that made a mistake, and it’s me that makes the apology to the victims of Epstein, and I do that.” The absence of Mr Starmer’s comments in the trove of Government papers released on Wednesday has come under the spotlight, sparking questions over whether he followed procedures.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed that “a lot of information is missing” from the files, pointing to an empty box she said Sir Keir was required to fill beneath advice he received in 2024 about the appointment.

No 10 said no notes by Sir Keir were redacted.

His official spokesman told reporters: “I refute the suggestion of a cover up. The Government’s complied fully. I just don’t accept that it’s the case at all.

“There are a range of different ways in which the Prime Minister’s senior team responds to advice.” He added: “The Prime Minister did read the advice, but clearly there are lessons to be learned on the wider appointment processes, and the processes that led up to them.”

This comes as Mr Starmer went on to visit the Atlas Women’s Centre Lisburn before travelling to Co Cork to meet Irish premier Micheal Martin at a summit of senior British and Irish ministers.

The Treasury will “co-ordinate” with the Northern Ireland Executive on home heating oil support, the UK Prime Minister has said.

Keir Starmer said he is determined to “clamp down” on people “getting ripped off” on their energy bills after his meeting with party leaders in Belfast, where there was cross-party and cross-community consensus on the call for more help.

He went on to visit the Atlas Women’s Centre Lisburn before travelling to Co Cork to meet Irish premier Micheal Martin at a summit of senior British and Irish ministers.

Earlier today, Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald said the cost of living was the main topic discussed during a “very forthright” meeting with Mr Starmer in Belfast on Thursday.

Ms McDonald and First Minister for Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill said that families were struggling with high costs, as around two-thirds of domestic properties in Northern Ireland use home heating oil.

also comes as governments are coming under pressure over a spike in the cost of fuel and home heating oil after the US and Israel began bombing Iran over a week ago.

Ms McDonald said in Belfast: “We’ve challenged the Prime Minister now to make an announcement, to come up with something that will actually make a difference to households right across the north that are struggling so badly and who, thus far, have not seen any kind of an adequate response from London, from the Prime Minister or from the Treasury.” She added: “Keir Starmer has come to Ireland, to Belfast, to Cork.

“He has framed his visit in respect of cost-of-living pressures, and specifically the price gouging, but also the runaway cost of home heating oil, and he needs to come up with an answer for families all across the north.

“I fully expect, and we’ve made this plain to him, that he will have something constructive and meaningful to say in that regard when he comes and speaks to the press.” Ms McDonald said they raised issues relating to Palestine, Iran and the UK’s arming of Israel, as well as the progress in establishing the Pat Finucane inquiry and the need for an inquiry into the death of Sean Brown, a Catholic father murdered by loyalists in 1997.

- Press Association