Peter Mandelson was sacked as Britain’s top diplomat in the US over his links to disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – less than 24 hours after the PM stood by him
Peter Mandelson was today sacked as Britain’s top diplomat in the US over his links to disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Keir Starmer demanded the Ambassador be withdrawn from his post in Washington – less than 24 hours after standing by the under-fire Labour grandee in the Commons. One senior MP, who represents Red Wall MPs, this evening called for further action and said the Labour peer should “pack his bags” and resign from the House of Lords.
It followed mounting pressure on the Prime Minister, with a string of Labour MPs saying Lord Mandelson’s position was “untenable” and demanding his resignation.
In emails leaked on Wednesday evening Lord Mandelson – a former spin doctor nicknamed the ‘Prince of Darkness’ – is reported to have told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
READ MORE: Peter Mandelson sacked as US Ambassador after new Jeffrey Epstein emails uncovered
It also emerged he coached the billionaire predator through “years of torture” over underage sex charges. He also allegedly told him, “I think the world of you” the day before he began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
At 10am the PM held crisis talks with aides and Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, over the UK ambassador to the US’s future. Just 45 minutes later, the Foreign Office issued a statement, saying: “In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as ambassador.
“The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.
“In particular Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information. In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”
Lord Mandelson this evening said that serving as the UK’s ambassador to the US has been the “privilege of my life”, according to a letter to embassy staff reported by the BBC.
The letter added: “The circumstances surrounding the announcement today are ones which I deeply regret. I continue to feel utterly awful about my association with Epstein 20 years ago and the plight of his victims. I have no alternative to accepting the Prime Minister’s decision and will leave a position in which I have been so incredibly honoured to serve.”
But Bassetlaw MP Jo White said “He (Lord Mandelson) should pack his bags and go and that means resigning as a member of the House of Lords and if he doesn’t take that route that means he will be bringing the Houses of Parliament into disrepute.”
She added to Times Radio: “Peter Mandelson knew fully the extent and breadth of his relationship with Epstein and he should never have gone for the role of ambassador to the USA. He has put the Prime Minister in a very, very difficult position and in my view has misled him.
“He went for this role purely to pursue his own ego rather than the best interests of our country and I’m extremely disappointed in him and my only wish for him is that he resigns from politics immediately.”
The sacking of the UK’s Trump Whisperer – just days before US President Donald Trump comes to the UK on a state visit – has sparked questions over Mr Starmer’s judgement.
At Wednesday’s PMQs, the PM backed Lord Mandelson, 71, who was a key figure in Tony Blair’s New Labour Government, despite a note having surfaced of him allegedly describing Epstein as his “best pal” in a 50th “birthday book” in 2003.
He also gave him his support after the former ambassador admitted more “very embarrassing” messages between the pair will come out. Downing Street said Mr Starmer found Lord Mandelson’s newly exposed emails to Epstein “reprehensible”.
The PM changed his position after reading the documents, which publicly emerged on Wednesday night. No10 said they revealed “new information” about the depth and extent of their relationship.
Asked if Mr Starmer will apologise to the British public for appointing Lord Mandelson, the PM’s spokesman would not say sorry. He said such a question was “overlooking a number of achievements” in Lord Mandelson’s time in office, including the UK-US trade deal and the strength of the relationship with the White House.
But Mr Starmer’s decision to appoint Lord Mandelson in the first place is now under intense scrutiny. Questions were raised over why the PM selected him given it was already publicly known Lord Mandelson had allegedly stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan house in 2009 when he was Business Secretary – and after the American financier was convicted of sex crimes.
But Downing Street said the PM has full confidence in the vetting process used to select Lord Mandelson, which it described as “extensive”.
The Mirror understands there is an onus on the individual being vetted to disclose relevant information but that the latest emails were not available at the time of Lord Mandelson’s appointment as they were from a long-closed email address.
READ MORE: Peter Mandelson sacked as US Ambassador after new Jeffrey Epstein emails uncoveredREAD MORE: Lord Mandelson admits ‘best pal’ note to Jeffrey Epstein is ‘very embarrassing’
Epstein’s victims reacted with revulsion after Lord Mandelson was appointed UK ambassador to Washington in December. One of those sexually assaulted by the American when she was a teenager told The Mirror she was “horrified” by the choice, adding: “It’s an insult to every survivor who fought to expose Epstein’s web of power and exploitation.”
Earlier today, it was reported that the security services expressed concern about Lord Mandelson’s appointment at the time, but No10 went ahead anyway. Downing Street said it is not involved in the security vetting process, adding: “It is managed at departmental level by the agency responsible.”
Mr Starmer having favoured Lord Mandelson despite his scandal-hit past has also raised questions about the PM’s judgement. The Labour heavyweight had to resign from Sir Tony’s cabinet twice, first over an undeclared loan of hundreds of thousands of pounds and then over helping a controversial Indian businessman secure a British passport.
Asked how he feels to see his communications with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019, Lord Mandelson said on Wednesday: “I find them very embarrassing to see and to read. But as you said, they were written before he was indicted.
“But I just feel two things now. One, I feel a tremendous sense, profound sense of sympathy for those people, those women who suffered as a result of his behaviour, and his illegal, criminal activities. And secondly, I regret, very, very deeply indeed, carrying all that association with him for far longer than I should have done.”
An interim ambassador to the US, James Roscoe, has taken over with immediate effect, No10 said. He will oversee the state visit of Mr Trump, who will arrive in the UK on Tuesday and which is due to go ahead as originally planned.
Mr Roscoe was made deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Washington in July 2022 and before that was UK ambassador to the UN General Assembly from 2019. The new process of appointing a permanent replacement has now begun, with the Palace being informed of Lord Mandelson’s departure this morning.
Karen Pierce – who previously held the role – is known to have close connections with Mr Trump’s Republican party and could be considered for a return to the role. David Miliband, who quit politics after his brother Ed Miliband defeated him in the Labour leadership race, is also among names to be floated.
The Conservatives have called for full disclosure on who in No10 knew what about Lord Mandelson’s links with Epstein.
Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper added: “The Prime Minister needs to carry out a full review of vetting procedures. It would be extraordinary if Peter Mandelson was appointed to a key role without the PM having been made aware of the full facts.
“Our country cannot be put in a position where we could be embarrassed on the international stage because of the Government not carrying out appropriate levels of due diligence.”
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