MUMBAI, India — Keir Starmer has ruled out a return to front-line politics for sacked U.K. Ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson.

Speaking to journalists during a trade mission to India, the British PM said there would be no “government role in terms of future appointments” for Mandelson, who Starmer dismissed as his U.S. envoy in September over his association with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson, who has had multiple comebacks during a long career in British politics, was given the high-profile diplomatic post despite a history of scandal-ridden departure from government. He resigned from Tony Blair’s government in 1998 over a loan scandal, and again in 2001 over allegations of misconduct, of which he was later cleared, around a passport application for the wealthy Hinduja brothers.

Asked by journalists this week if he could see a future in front-line politics for Mandelson, Starmer said: “Not in a government role in terms of future appointments.”

Starmer also failed to commit to letting Mandelson return to parliament as a Labour-affiliated member of the House of Lords, telling journalists the “issue of the whip doesn’t arise” because Mandelson is on a leave of absence.

Ex-Labour PM Gordon Brown made Mandelson a life peer in 2008 so he could join his cabinet to become business secretary.

But Mandelson took a “leave of absence” from parliament in January to take on the high-profile diplomatic role as U.K. ambassador to Washington. He is yet to apply to return from his leave of absence, according to two people familiar with his status, granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the record.

He has “no present plan” to return to the Lords, one of those quoted above said.

An application to return to parliament would trigger a three-month notice period.

The PM would face a backlash from some of his MPs if Mandelson was allowed to return as a Labour peer after he suspended four MPs from Labour over repeated breaches of party discipline in the summer.

Labour MP Paula Barker told the BBC in September Mandelson’s appointment had been “an absolute betrayal” of Labour’s promise to raise standards.

“My colleagues, who represent their constituents every single day, diligently, and stood up against welfare cuts, some of those were suspended for doing the right thing, for standing up for their constituents. Yet we have a man like Mandelson, who is just basically allowed to get away with this — I just think it’s absolutely disgusting, quite frankly.”

Mandelson was sacked after leaked emails showed he continued his friendship with Epstein after the disgraced financier was indicted for soliciting prostitution from a minor.