We can reveal how Lord Mandelson has lost his honorary role at the publicly-funded Design Museum, in London, which he used to chair, as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal rumbles on
Sacked US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been stripped of a prestigious honorary Design Museum role in the wake of controversy over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The ex-minister was dismissed by PM Keir Starmer in September after the extent of his friendship with the disgraced late financier emerged. Now we can reveal how Lord Mandelson has lost his honorary post at the publicly-funded Design Museum, in London, which he used to chair. Manchester Metropolitan University earlier stripped him of honours and he has also resigned as a fellow of an Oxford college. It comes as it emerged this week how he continued to have contact with Epstein until as recently as 2016.
Until we contacted the Museum this week, the Labour grandee was proudly listed among figures on the Museum’s website under a “Trustee Emeriti” section – even boasting he had a “distinguished track record”. But his glowing profile was removed after we enquired about his role.
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A spokesperson said today: “Lord Mandelson no longer holds any formal position at the Design Museum. He completed his term as Chair of Trustees in 2023. The museum’s website listed him among several former trustees in recognition of their previous voluntary service to the institution; the role of ‘Trustee Emeriti’ is honorary and carries no responsibilities or active involvement in the museum’s governance or operations. He is no longer an Emeritus Trustee.” Asked whether it was the museum’s decision to remove the honorary title or Lord Mandelson’s, a spokesperson confirmed it was the museum’s.
Earlier emails disclosed showed Lord Mandelson was sending supportive messages to Epstein up until 2010 – including after his conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. But on Wednesday, correspondence from six years later was published among thousands of documents from Epstein’s estate by the US House Oversight Committee. The exchange begins with a November 2016 email in which Epstein says to Lord Mandelson: “63 years old. You made it,” in an apparent reference to his recent birthday.
The messages also suggest Lord Mandelson warned Epstein to stay away from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The ex-prince was recently stripped of his titles by his brother, the King, after allegations – which he denies – that he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by the US billionaire. Epstein tells Lord Mandelson “you were right about staying away from Andrew”. The peer responds: “Yes, without Andrew it would not have gone nuclear.” Meanwhile, in an email chain from 2011, Epstein forwards to Lord Mandelson a request for an interview from BBC Radio 4’s Today programme sent to his attorney, Jack Goldberger.
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The broadcaster expressed an interest in speaking to him about “stories which are circulating, however inaccurately, about both him and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York”. Lord Mandelson replies: “No!!”. Lord Mandelson, a central figure of the New Labour era, was withdrawn from the Washington mission in September after it emerged he told the disgraced financier to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was also reported to have told Epstein “I think the world of you” the day before he began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
Mandelson’s exchange with Epstein in late 2016 came not long before he started his role as chairman of the Design Museum. Before it was removed, Mandelson’s profile on the Design Museum’s website said: “Lord Mandelson was Chairman of the Design Museum from 2017 to 2023. Appointed December 2016, Lord Mandelson took up his post in March 2017. Lord Mandelson has a distinguished track record. He is a former European Trade Commissioner and British First Secretary of State. Prior to this, he was Minister without Portfolio, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Northern Ireland Secretary and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in the British government.”
The Design Museum is a registered charity, with accounts showing it got £1.3million from the Arts and Humanities Research council in 2023-4. It is running an exhibition on the “legendary Blitz club night that transformed 1980s London style”, with another on director Wes Anderson’s work opening later this month. Mandelson, who has said he regrets his relationship with Epstein, was contacted for comment.