BREAKING: Liberal Democrats call for full Epstein inquiry, says North Devon MP

The Liberal Democrats have called for a full public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s influence in the UK, with North Devon MP Ian Roome speaking to the North Devon Gazette about the party’s position.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was in Hastings today, Thursday, February 5, where he announced that the town would receive £22 million under the Government’s Pride in Place initiative.

Speaking at Horntye Sports Centre, Starmer immediately addressed the growing controversy over his 2024 appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, using the occasion to apologise to Epstein’s victims.

He said: “I am sorry - sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you, sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him, and sorry that even now you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.”

Starmer acknowledged the “anger and frustration” felt by Labour MPs over his decision, adding that Mandelson misled him during the vetting process, giving the impression he “barely knew” Epstein.

Mr Roome told the Gazette: “Epstein’s victims deserve the truth, and justice, and they must not be forgotten amidst all of this. The Prime Minister is right to apologise, but this remains a grim scandal. We Liberal Democrats are calling for a full public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s influence at the heart of the British establishment, once any police investigation has concluded. The allegations are incredibly serious and clearly Starmer’s judgement is in question. On top of this, the Polish Government thinks Epstein may have been spying for Vladimir Putin. The Government needs to urgently investigate whether Peter Mandelson may have been leaking state secrets not just to a paedophile American financier, but also a Russian agent.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Starmer’s position as “a question of when, not if,” while one Labour MP told the BBC the prime minister’s resignation was “inevitable.”

Mandelson has not responded to requests for comment from the BBC. 

The BBC has stated that they understand Mandelson’s position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain