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Hello, this is David Kornock at Westminster.

On Thursday, the 11th of September, Peter Mandelson's sacking, as the UK's ambassador to the United States,

was announced to MPs by a foreign office minister.

Opposition MPs often try to drag a minister to the Commons by asking what's known as an

urgent question. They don't really expect a direct answer, but yesterday the Foreign Office Minister,

Stephen Doughty, broke with years of tradition. In light of additional information in emails written

by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary

to withdraw him as ambassador to the United States. As the surprise cheers from the Conservative

Benches died down, the Minister explained why the ambassador had been sacked. The emails show, Mr Speaker,

that the depth and extent of Lord Madison's relationship with

Geoffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.

In particular, Mr. Speaker, Lord Madison's suggestion that Geoffrey Epstein's first conviction

was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.

And in light of that, Mr Speaker, and mindful as we all are of the victims of Epstein's

appalling crimes, he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.

Less than 24 hours earlier from the same dispatch box,

Sakea Stama had told MPs he did have confidence in his man in Washington.

The shadow cabinet minister, Neil O'Brien,

who'd asked the urgent question about the way ambassadors were appointed,

had been reading the leaked emails,

and decided it was now the Prime Minister, who also had a case to answer.

...