LONDON, April 19 -- British government ministers today backed embattled premier Keir Starmer as he struggles to shake off a scandal over long-time Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson.

Starmer is due to face lawmakers in parliament tomorrow to explain how Mandelson was appointed Britain's ambassador to the US in late 2024 despite failing to pass security checks.

The beleaguered prime minister, who has been dogged by the controversy for months, said Friday that he and other ministers were not told Mandelson had failed the vetting process, calling that "unforgivable".

He has blamed Foreign Office mandarins for allowing Mandelson's appointment against the advice of security officials, and sacked the department's top civil servant Oll...