The Prime Minister took responsibility for the "mistake" of appointing the peer, who was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office last month, but denied accusations of a cover-up and said no notes from him had been redacted in the so-called Mandelson files. But it emerged this week that Sir Keir was warned of a "general reputational risk" in sending Mandelson to Washington, linked to his continuing relationship with Epstein after the financier's conviction for procuring an underage girl in 2008.

The Prime Minister's global outlook doesn't look much better than his domestic prospects, with the war in Iran continuing to push energy and petrol bills up, with no end in sight, despite Donald Trump's claims.

While the impact on British wallets will depend on how long the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran goes on for, analysts have suggested petrol could hit £2 a litre if it drags into summer, with energy prices potentially rising by over £500.

Thinktank the Resolution Foundation said: "If recent rises in the price of oil and gas were to be sustained, they could add around a percentage point to inflation and £500 onto typical annual energy bills."

The crisis has seen the price of a barrel of oil rocket over $100 for the first time in years, with supplies threatened by attacks on infrastructure of major producers in the region, creating a real risk of costs exceeding $150 a barrel, amounting to £2 a litre for British drivers.