Explained: Why UK PM Keir Starmer Is Facing Resignation Calls?

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing fresh calls to resign, over a controversy that just won’t go away. At the centre is his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States. The move was controversial from the start, because of Mandelson's past links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But now, the crisis has escalated. Starmer is being accused of misleading Parliament. A report revealed Mandelson was initially denied security clearance, despite Starmer saying "full due process" was followed. Starmer says he was unaware and is "furious", but critics are questioning his judgment and credibility. This isn't the first time the issue has hurt him. Mandelson was later fired, but fresh Epstein-linked documents revived the controversy. Now, opposition leader Kemi Badenoch says Starmer's position is "untenable." For a leader who promised integrity, the stakes this time are very high.