Trump gives reluctant approval to Starmer’s Chagos deal as Mandelson scandal deepens

Donald Trump has offered reluctant backing to Sir Keir Starmer’s controversial Chagos Islands agreement, describing it as “the best he could make” during a turbulent week that has left the prime minister fighting for political survival.

The US president’s comments came as pressure intensified on Starmer in Westminster, where anger continues to mount over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington and the handling of his vetting process despite his past friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump’s remarks signalled that the United States is prepared to proceed with the Chagos Islands arrangement, offering Starmer a rare moment of diplomatic relief. Downing Street said the UK and US would now work closely on implementing the deal, framing the development as a significant foreign policy win at a moment of deep domestic crisis.

That crisis has been driven by revelations surrounding Mandelson’s appointment and the government’s admission that Starmer was aware of Mandelson’s association with Epstein before approving him for the ambassadorial role. The prime minister apologised publicly for “believing Mandelson’s lies”, a statement that stunned MPs and hardened opposition within his own party.

A Commons vote forced the government to agree to publish documents relating to Mandelson’s vetting. However, the Metropolitan Police later advised that some material should not yet be released, warning that disclosure could undermine an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations that Mandelson shared confidential government information with Epstein.

The prospect of delayed transparency has only intensified anger on the Labour benches. MPs described a “dark” atmosphere in the Commons after Starmer’s admission, with several warning that the release of the documents could trigger a leadership challenge once the full facts emerge.

One Labour MP said trust in the prime minister was rapidly draining, while another suggested they could not guarantee backing Starmer in a future confidence vote. Senior figures privately compared the scandal to past crises that brought down previous governments, warning that the situation was now existential.

Opposition figures have seized on the turmoil. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of repeated failures of judgement and demanded the release of all vetting advice linked to senior appointments. She said the Mandelson affair revealed a pattern that could no longer be dismissed as an isolated error.

The fallout spread beyond foreign affairs. Conservatives also attacked Labour’s record on illegal immigration, claiming removals remained inadequate. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood vowed to intensify deportations and tighten asylum rules, insisting she would do “whatever it takes” to restore control. Critics dismissed the measures as insufficient and accused the government of being distracted by scandal.

Within Downing Street, there was quiet relief that Trump’s endorsement of the Chagos deal offered at least one positive headline. Trump was openly begrudging in tone, but his acceptance was seen as crucial to preventing the agreement from collapsing under international pressure.

Starmer will now attempt to shift focus back to domestic priorities. He is expected to promote his Pride in Place programme, a multi billion pound investment plan aimed at regenerating deprived communities across the UK. An additional funding announcement is planned, with the prime minister arguing that rebuilding trust in politics must begin locally.

Despite this, MPs from across the Commons say the Mandelson affair has already caused lasting damage. Many believe the issue will not fade while key documents remain unpublished and police inquiries continue.

As Parliament breaks for the weekend, Starmer may gain a brief pause from direct confrontation. But allies privately acknowledge that the coming weeks could determine whether his leadership survives.

Trump’s backing of the Chagos deal may have strengthened Starmer abroad, but at home the pressure is only growing.