Half of British voters now believe Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should resign following disclosures surrounding his appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. Starmer acknowledged earlier this week that he knew Mandelson had maintained a relationship with Epstein after the financier’s prison sentence for child prostitution.

The U.S. Department of Justice revealed in released Epstein documents that Mandelson allegedly provided Epstein with sensitive government information that could have been exploited in financial markets. Reports also indicate Mandelson and his husband received thousands of dollars in payments from Epstein.

The revelations have triggered a formal investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police, with raids conducted on Mandelson’s properties in London and Wiltshire. Starmer, already facing political pressure in his first year in office, now appears vulnerable, with former deputy Angela Rayner reportedly positioning herself as a potential successor.

Public opinion reflects the controversy. A YouGov poll finds that 50 percent of voters believe Starmer should step down, compared with 24 percent who support him remaining in office. Even among Labour supporters, 37 percent favor resignation, while 40 percent back him to stay. Another survey for the Times of London found that 51 percent of voters consider Starmer as, or more, sleazy than former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Starmer’s handling of the affair has drawn widespread criticism: only 23 percent said he acted competently, 43 percent said he performed poorly, and just 14 percent said he demonstrated good judgment.

Observers note the irony that Starmer, who led calls for Johnson’s resignation over Downing Street lockdown parties, now faces a comparable crisis tied to his own political appointee. The scandal has intensified fears of a Labour electoral setback, with Reform UK and former Brexit leader Nigel Farage positioned to capitalize on voter discontent.