PLOUGHING through the latest Epstein papers is akin to wading through the Augean stables of Greek mythology.

Indeed, it takes a strong stomach to confront 30 years of accumulated filth. While Heracles managed to reroute two rivers and clean away the muck in just two days, cleansing the criminals in league with our latter-day King Augeas will require a revolution.

Presidents, princes, prime ministers, financiers and military chiefs are up to their necks in the ordure. Their complicity in political and financial corruption, people trafficking and the sexual abuse of women and girls is clearly exposed in emails and memos.

These records constitute a prima facie case for further investigation across the northern hemisphere, from the US and Europe to the Middle East and beyond.

Unfortunately, in Britain and elsewhere much of the corruption is legal. Here, for instance, politicians and political parties can be paid by overseas companies, wealthy individuals and foreign powers in ways which make a mockery of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000) and Electoral Commission regulations.

The most recent Register of MPs’ Interests shows how lavishly British and US media corporations in Britain can supplement an MP’s basic salary of £93,904. One entry under the surnames beginning with F illustrates this point in detail.

A register of ex-MPs’ financial interests would also shed further light on references in the Epstein papers to a surname beginning with B.

Then there is the whole racket whereby corporations buy influence, dishing out donations, directorships, consultancies and seconded staff to parties, politicians and retired top civil servants and military generals.

Evicting Peter Mandelson from the House of Lords, the Privy Council and the Labour Party does not begin to hose down the stables, the first two of which should have been demolished centuries ago.

Yet it serves the interests of large sections of the mass media, big business and the political Establishment to concentrate upon the real and alleged misconduct of individuals, not upon the deep corruption and abuses of power that are intrinsic to capitalism as a system.

The picture painted by the Epstein revelations is damning enough. It does not need the baseless claims, crude distortions and twisted agendas of Britain’s gutter press and a barmy army of social media pundits.

The Epstein papers themselves contain much that is gossip and speculation. Certainly, they do not prove that Israel or a cabal of paedophiles rule Britain and the US; that Putin and his oligarchs directed Brexit; or that prominent British politicians ritually disembowel babies.

Nor do they mention — even once — asylum-seekers, let alone hold them responsible for the repugnant crimes described within.

Indeed, it is the gutter press in Britain which for the past three decades has banged on daily about immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers as though they are the root of all evil.

The role of lie-sheets like the Sun, Express and Mail in poisoning political life should not be understated, especially when the broadcast media and so many politicians have allowed them to set the political news agenda.

Cleaning Britain’s Augean stables would, therefore, have to sweep away today’s pattern of media ownership.

It’s high-time to implement part one recommendations of the Leveson inquiry into press practices and ethics. Keir Starmer should also U-turn and reinstate part two to investigate the corporate governance of Britain’s major news organisations.

In the meantime, Starmer could do worse than block access to Elon Musk’s X platform, which is now an open sewer promoting race hatred, violence and the politics of fascism.