MP: Mandelson was appointed because of his Epstein contacts

Montgomeryshire’s MP Steve Witherden has launched a double-barrelled attack on his own Government after claiming Peter Mandelson was appointed as Britain’s Ambassador to the USA because of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

As files were released yesterday showing that there were warnings over Mr Mandelson’s relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein before he was appointed to the role, Labour MP, Mr Witherden, said that was exactly why he got the job.

USA President Donald Trump was also heavily associated with the disgraced financier and Mr Witherden has publicly made the connection that many have already made in front of their television screens as the fiasco unfolded.

The MP also called the USA a “flawed democracy” and urged his Government to “distance ourselves” from what has always been considered our closest ally over the past century.

“The type of company Mandelson keeps was well known and he was still appointed,” Mr Witherden said after his Parliament address yesterday. “Worse, I think he was appointed precisely because of the circles he moved in and to ingratiate a warmonger.”

In his scathing address, a clearly agitated Mr Witherden said: “Mandelson’s avarice, his business connections, and his malign influence within the Labour Party are simultaneously why he was made ambassador and why he was useful to Epstein.

“Does my Right Honourable friend agree that we should be seeking to distance ourselves from flawed democracies that are drifting towards authoritarianism such as the United States, rather than using those associated with sex offenders in order to strengthen such relationships.”