A senior minister has defended Sir Keir Starmer's handling of Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador despite acknowledging it caused "damage" to the government. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told the BBC Sir Keir "accepted making a mistake" but had responded by trying to make reforms to the "very structures of power in our society". Documents released by the government showed Sir Keir was warned the peer's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein posed a "reputational risk" before he was confirmed as US ambassador. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said Labour MPs should consider whether Sir Keir is "fit to run our country" after being "dishonest" about what he knew. Sir Keir has said he did not know the extent and depth of the pair's relationship when Lord Mandelson was appointed in December 2024. The peer began the ambassadorial role in February 2025 but was sacked in September after Downing Street said new information about the depth of his relationship with Epstein had emerged.…