I made 'serious mistake' advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson, PM's ex-top adviser says 1 hour ago Becky Morton Political reporter "Like a knife through my soul"; Morgan McSweeney on learning extent of Mandelson/Epstein relationship The PM's former chief of staff has said he made "a serious mistake" in recommending the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US. Morgan McSweeney, who resigned in February over the advice, said he felt the peer's experience as an EU trade envoy would help the UK secure a US trade deal. However, he told MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee that after fresh revelations about Lord Mandelson's friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged, it "dawned" on him that he had not given the "full truth" about their friendship. McSweeney admitted No 10 wanted Lord Mandelson in post "quickly" but insisted officials were never asked to "skip steps".…