HOME Office minister Mike Tapp has said he is uncomfortable and “disturbed” that Peter Mandelson emailed Jeffrey Epstein to urge him to fight for early release after he was convicted on a child prostitution charge.
Speaking on GB News, Tapp said: “I’ve read these emails. I’m uncomfortable with that. I’m disturbed by that.
“Look, where we are at the moment, we’re seeing Keir Starmer’s statement in the house yesterday that he has confidence in his ability as ambassador. Now, what he means by that is the work he’s done around the trade agreement with the United States, and that’s been great for British workers.
“But also we’re talking security here. There’s an emanating threat from Russia, which is potentially growing. These relationships are really important.
“But when it comes to the decision on this, that’s for the Prime Minister and he was clear in his statement yesterday and, of course, we’ve seen Peter Mandelson put a letter out yesterday where he does express regret for those emails.”
Mike Tapp GB News.jpg
He added: “It’s an unhelpful distraction, but I have to be really clear to viewers that as a new Home Office minister, I’m not distracted by this.
‘And after this interview, I’ll be back in there, and we’ll be talking about the hard policy we’re going to put in place to stop the boats and to ensure we’re deporting more people, get people out of the hotels. Ministers and MPs are not distracted by this, and I’ll be in my constituency tomorrow.
“The protection of women, girls will always be a top priority for this government. Jess Phillips is working hard on that. Keir Starmer, we know, was Director of Public Prosecutions, he’s putting these paedos in prison. Shabana Mahmood, the new Home Secretary, saw an increase of 14% in removal of foreign national offenders that included vile paedophiles.
“We’re going to reform the ECHR so that we’re not being held back. Because I’ve said it many times on your show, if you can’t deport a foreign paedophile, something’s not working. So we’re going to make that work. We’re going to go hard on this. Protection of women and girls is a top priority.
“I’ve been clear with you today that I’m disturbed by those emails, but I can only direct you to Peter Mandelson’s statement yesterday, where he does express his deep regret at those emails and that full relationship with that vile paedophile.”
