Many of the papers on Friday feature a photo released by the FBI of a “person of interest” in the assassination of conservative US activist Charlie Kirk. The Sun has paired the image with the headline “Face of evil”, and alleges that the bullet was engraved with “transgender and anti-fascist ideaology”.
The Mail leads with Lord Mandelson, and says Sir Keir Starmer was “forced” to sack the UK ambassador to the US over his relationship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein “just hours after defending him”. The paper suggests he “ignored a string of warnings” and that Labour MPs have branding his handling of the episode “a shambles”. In addition to a photo of the “person of interest” in Charlie Kirk’s death, the front page of the Mail also highlights a piece by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on the conservative activist. He writes that the left “tried to silence my friend Charlie Kirk with wild slanders”.
The “fury” in Westminister is also a focus for the Telegraph, and it reports that figures in Downing Street were “aware” of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein but “chose to overide the concerns”. The paper says that two senior members of the Trump administration have also “expressed concerns” over the ambassador’s ties to Epstein.
“PM faces questions over judgment” says the Guardian, similarly alleging that concerns had been raised about Lord Mandelson prior to his appointment to the role of ambassador. A government adviser told the paper that they had raised “informal doubts” about Mandelson regarding his relationship with a Russian oligarch, but was told that the appointment would be good because he was “such a master of the dark arts”.
The Times reports that Lord Mandelson is “said to feel ill-treated by Starmer’s decision” to sack him, as he disclosed his relationship with the late Epstein in the vetting process for his role as US ambassador. The paper points out that it is the second time in a week that the prime minister has “defended a senior figure only for them to leave office”.
“Shooting rocks divided nation” declares the Financial Times, writing that US President Donald Tump has vowed to address “radical left political violence” in the aftermath of the “heinous assassination” of Charlie Kirk. On Lord Mandelson, the paper notes that ambassador’s dismissal has come just days before a state visit to Britain by Trump, which could now be impacted by “Epstein’s shadow”.
“Mandy: It all ends in Keirs” declares the Metro, featuring the now-infamous photo of Lord Mandelson in a bathrobe with Epstein.
The i Paper says Lord Mandelson’s exit leaves a “weakened Starmer facing wrath of Labour”.
The Express says the prime minister has been “branded weak” in the wake of the “Mandelson ‘fiasco'”.
“Home in disgrace” reads the Mirror’s headline, with the front page pointing to a piece by Paul Routledge on the “fatal flaws of ego-driven ‘Mandy'”.
Television presenter Gary Lineker is pictured on the front page of the Star, and the paper says he is “unlikely to work with the BBC again”.
