"UK PM Sir Keir Starmer attempted to focus on Iran - but reporters continued to demand answers over exactly what he knew about his former ambassador's ties to the late paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein on Monday. "Your national security advisor said the process was quite weirdly rushed and Mandelson was appointed before developed vetting had been complete. You told MPs in the House of Commons that due process was followed. Is there a possibility that you have misled the House when you said that?" he was asked. "No, and the independent advisor looked at that very question, I think, on Thursday or Friday of last week and answered it very robustly that the process had been followed," Starmer hit back. He added: "The process was followed, but was the process strong enough? No, it wasn't. Now, I recognised that back in September when the Bloomberg emails came to light, and it was then that I started the process of strengthening it, and will continue to do so." Mandelson was arrested last month amid claims he passed sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary (2008-2010) - and then released on bail. He has previously denied wrongdoing.  Starmer is under huge pressure over appointing Mandelson. According to the latest 'Mandelson files' released last week, the PM was warned about the 'reputational risk' - and about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein which lasted until at least 2011, after the financier's conviction for soliciting a minor. Starmer's security adviser Jonathan Powell claimed the appointment had been 'weirdly rushed' - while the PM himself was said to have been warned that he "could be more exposed if anything goes wrong". The PM has said he regrets the appointment and that he was 'lied to'."