Starmer scandal raises fears Ukraine could lose top partner

An analysis of the political situation in the UK as of February 5, 2026, indicates that the ground beneath Prime Minister Keir Starmer is not merely shaking - he is at the epicenter of a genuine political earthquake.

The situation is critical, and here is why the prime minister’s position is now weaker than at any point during his 18 months in office.

The point is that during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in Parliament, Starmer made a statement that shocked even his allies. It turns out he knew about Peter Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein even before appointing him ambassador to the US.

Revolt within his own ranks

Following the disclosure of this information, a real drama unfolded in Parliament. Labour Party MPs refused to support the prime minister and joined forces with the opposition to force the government to release secret documents regarding Mandelson’s appointment. Moreover, some Labour members have openly said that Starmer’s days are numbered.

Criminal undertones

The matter has now gone beyond a political scandal - UK police have launched an investigation into Mandelson. He is suspected of passing confidential state information to Epstein, including details related to the 2008 financial crisis.

Thus, Starmer, who personally pushed for this appointment on the advice of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, now appears as someone who let poison into the heart of government.

A plunge in approval ratings

The scandal is unfolding against the backdrop of the prime minister’s record-low popularity. About 95% of Britons are aware of the Mandelson–Epstein case, and half of them are closely following the government’s every move. The UK faces local elections in May, and if Starmer fails to contain the situation, they could be his last in office.

For now, Starmer remains in power only because his potential successors (Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting, Ed Miliband) each have their own reasons not to begin an open leadership battle today. However, Bloomberg analysts and political science professors are convinced that in such situations, the path from unlikely to inevitable is traveled very quickly.

Starmer attempted to salvage the situation by announcing the stripping of Mandelson’s peerage and Privy Council membership, but for many MPs, this step appears to be a belated attempt to distance himself from his own mistake.

Britain as Ukraine’s ally

While British MPs are counting the final days of Keir Starmer’s tenure amid the high-profile Mandelson scandal, Kyiv risks losing one of its most active allies.

Recently, the UK allocated £20 million to Ukraine for the restoration of its energy infrastructure.

In addition, Britain is strengthening Ukraine’s air defense by supplying modern short- and long-range systems to protect against Russian aerial threats.

Beyond energy and military support, London has announced an expansion of the school partnership program between Ukraine and the UK. Over the next three years, 300 more schools are expected to join the program, bringing the total number of participating students from both countries to around 54,000.