Title: Former Minister Alleges Government Neglected Epstein Survivors Amid Mandelson Controversy

The former victims’ minister has levied accusations against the government, claiming it has failed to adequately heed the concerns of survivors connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Alex Davies-Jones, the Labour MP who stepped down from her post in May, argued that survivors were marginalized, treated merely as a "footnote" in the political turmoil surrounding Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States.

During a session in the House of Commons, Davies-Jones delivered a statement on behalf of Lisa Phillips, an American survivor of Epstein. In the statement, Phillips alleged that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had disregarded her multiple attempts to secure a meeting.

The controversy unfolded during a parliamentary debate focused on the government’s reaction to a motion demanding the release of documents pertaining to Lord Mandelson’s diplomatic appointment. The peer was dismissed from his role in September 2025 after Downing Street announced the discovery of new evidence regarding the extent of his ties to Epstein. Prime Minister Starmer’s decision followed a review of emails revealing that Mandelson had sent supportive messages to Epstein in 2008, as the latter faced sex offense charges.

Davies-Jones emphasized to the Commons that the most striking element of the scandal was not the public commentary, but the silence. "For all the headlines that have been generated by this story, the people whose lives were devastated by Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have too often been reduced to a footnote and that should concern every single one of us," she stated. She added, "Perhaps the most revealing aspect of these disclosures is not simply who ministers were meeting but who they were not."

According to Davies-Jones, while considerable resources were dedicated to "cultivating relationships with influential figures in the tech world," victims felt neglected and unheard. She noted that she was compelled to "fight tooth and nail" within the government to ensure victim voices were recognized, a struggle that convinced her that "something is not working as it should." This realization ultimately led to her "difficult but necessary decision to resign."

Davies-Jones read out Phillips’s statement, which highlighted the survivor’s confusion over Mandelson’s appointment given that his association with Epstein was widely known. Phillips, a former model who has publicly shared her trauma, is calling for a public inquiry. "I have repeatedly requested the opportunity to meet with the prime minister but those requests have all been ignored," she said. "Must I now wait for the next prime minister to acknowledge me and my survivor sisters?"

In response, Cabinet Office Minister Darren Jones addressed the allegations, acknowledging that Davies-Jones’s speech prompted him to reflect on his own interactions with Lord Mandelson. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister admitted that he had not received any specific warnings regarding Mandelson and did not believe he had consciously dismissed reports about the peer. However, he conceded to potential implicit bias.

"Did I at best subconsciously treat Peter Mandelson differently because I believed him to have influence and power in the Labour Party? I think the answer to that question is yes, I did," Jones stated. He further admitted, "Have I benefited from that relationship in the time that I've been an elected politician? I think in part the answer to that question is yes, I did."

Jones offered an apology to the House, the victims, and Lisa Phillips, promising to take action. He confirmed that he accepted Davies-Jones’s invitation to meet with the victims to discuss the issues raised and pledged to make himself available for such a discussion.

The debate follows the publication of over 1,000 pages of documents on Monday, the first batch of which was released in March. These files contain correspondence between Lord Mandelson and various ministers, featuring exchanges of advice and news, as well as criticisms directed at the No. 10 operation, Labour MPs, and the Prime Minister himself.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 21:06:31 UTC