To think there are more important things than Mandelsen and Epstein

[RhaenysRocks]

Just watching LK this morning big interview and main discussion is about Mandelsen and his appointment given his history with Epstein. Who is dead. Meanwhile there are two wars ongoing, a huge, increasingly violent march in London, an incredibly worrying bill about SEND on Monday being discussed. I don't care about sleaze. This is not at all political , I'm neither pro nor anti one party, but why is the BBC focusing on this?

I don’t think our politicians and representatives should get away with rape and sexual abuse and being friends with paedophiles and not seeing their behaviour as repugnant.
So, I’m interested.

They are focussing on the lack of judgement of the PM, who appointed Mandelson despite advice.

I think Mandelson's friendship with Epstein is very important and that so is ensuring our representatives to other countries are fit and proper people, without dodgy connections, inappropriate friendships and good judgement. At least this is a story about our country, our representatives and things that affect British people. What pisses me off is the constant leading of the news with stories about America, in particular, but also bloody Israel/Gaza. Our news should start with British news unless there is a simply huge story from elsewhere (e.g. the Air India crash), and in that case, that leads, then back to the British news. We have so much going on in this country, but frequently our news is dominated by stories from elsewhere that have little bearing on people in this country, so we don't hear about what is actually relevant and important to us.

It's a lot more than normal sleaze, eg of the affair between adults or financial type though isn't it?

No, I don't think the abuse of women and girls by powerful men should be hidden behind wars and controversial domestic policies. Most of us are capable of absorbing information on more than one issue at a time.

Because politicians get blackmailed into doing things that are not good for the country. And who wants to be governed by people who are paedophile apologist?
It shows an appalling lack of judgement.

It's all part of the bigger picture isn't?

As with everything, you only get to know it when you touch it, smell it, see it, hear it.

you really dont get why its such a big deal that the PM appointed an Epstien friend as the ambassador to the US and apparently knew about the friendship, backed him then fired him

Ok that's fine, I'm quite happy to be wrong, it just irritated me that this seems less important and impactful to the majority of the population than other issues. I do disagree hugely with the pp who said they don't want to hear foreign news. It's far more relevant in real terms than Mandelsen.

sleaze - immoral, sordid or corrupt behaviour or activities

You don’t care if politicians are immoral or corrupt?

You don’t think politicians being immoral or corrupt might be the reason our country is in such a mess?

I always find it concerning when people want us all to gloss over things. Why? We can be concerned about multiple things at once.

No, I think it's important. The media covers a number of stories on any given day. They can report on this and also the other things you have mentioned and more besides. You can find news stories about whatever you are interested in, on your phone, any time you like.

I don't want to gloss over it at all. I want politicians to be decent and law abiding and I absolutely think we can consider lots of different things but it's now 9.40 so almost the entire programme had been given over to this. Meanwhile we've got a bill being discussed in parliament tomorrow that could massively impact thousands of SEND children in the UK and not a peep.

You do realise that more than one thing at a time can be important??

Yes of course, wars are important to discuss …but so is an elected politician allegedly being entertained by a notorious pedophile pretty important.

More or less everything we do, or are allowed to do, the way the country is run, the decisions that are made are by these so called politicians…if any of them are seen to be ‘wanting’ it seriously makes the decisions they make less safe…so yes…calling out crocked politicians is important to ensure that this country is run properly and not by men or women purely feathering their own nests.

Unbelievable.

Its hugely important for women if the men that hold power over our lives are the types who will abuse and exploit us, acting unlawfully to do so, and then covering their tracks and protecting other abusive men. Keeping this in the shadows of 'more important' things gives the message this isn't important and emboldens others.

I really don't get the fuss either. Mandelsen did nothing illegal or rule breaking. Starmer certainly hasn't.

This is being whipped up as an "error of judgement" by starmer. Because epstein was involved certain people can get on their high horse about it. Before this no-one could name an ambassador to the us, but now it has become a key political position.

There are hundreds of stories that could be reported on, but will be ignored.

Because it shows how incompetent and weak Starmer is. It was Starmer who appointed Mandelson to be ambassador to the US. Trump is doing his state visit next week. Mandelson would have had a key role in welcoming Trump to UK. It makes my skin crawl to think of Trump and Mandelson standing side by side. Two people who were closely associated with Epstein. These are people in power. They’re supposed to be leaders. How do they get to be in such positions given their histories? Money talks.

It is a big story that he’s been sacked, why and what was known when. Other stuff is being reported on.

As for the bill you mention I think that has been glossed over. I’m not sure why Labour isn’t being looked at for that.

You’re right OP. This is a non story. Because everything about Mandelson was already in the public domain. Everyone jumping on this bandwagon has either discovered the benefits of hindsight, or they have an axe to grind against Two Tier.

Now, Two Tier is an absolute disaster and totally clueless. He’s destroying what’s left of this country. But this ain’t the worst thing he’s done. Not by a country mile.

Mandelson had to resign twice under the Blair years for not telling the truth. He didn’t get the nickname ‘Prince of Darkness’ and ‘Dark Lord’ for nothing.

Mandelson warned Starmer about his dark side and yet he still appointed him as ambassador to the US. And lo and behold the email exchanges between Mandelson and Epstein have been made public. Starmer is such an incompetent fool ignoring all the red flags.

Have you read the email’s that Mandelson sent to his pardophile pal Epstein? Sickening.

The british ambassador to the US showed a massive lack of judgment, being friends with a man who sexually abused, raped and coerced yoing girls. He expressed dismay that Epstein was convicted, and said he hoped he would not serve long. The rights of women and girls dont seem to matter too much. This is important. This is very important.

This is why it's so important op, the pm having such awful lack of judgement is a very real issue

Of course other things matter too but these are the people running our country and showing us how skewed their moral compasses are is pretty important in my view.

One person who I imagine is fervently praying for the focus to stay on Mandleson is Prince Andrew. But if the papers are to be believed then the heat will be back on him soon, so don't expect this to go away anytime soon OP.

Turning a blind eye to sexual abuse/paedophilia/ men targeting the vulnerable is not going to be a good outcome for children with SEN.