Former UK Minister Mandelson Quits Labour Over Epstein Allegations

Former British government minister Peter Mandelson has resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party after fresh reports surfaced linking him to disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson was previously dismissed by Starmer as Britain’s ambassador to the United States in 2021, following earlier revelations of his connections to Epstein.

In a letter published on Sunday and shared with BBC and other news outlets by Reuters, which the outlet could not immediately verify, Mandelson expressed regret for any “further embarrassment” he might cause to Labour. He stated that allegations about financial payments from Epstein were false and committed to investigating them further.

Mandelson was instrumental in Labour’s electoral success under Tony Blair’s leadership during the 1990s. His tenure as ambassador to the United States ended abruptly last year, following a letter where he referred to Epstein as his “best pal,” leading to his dismissal.

Mandelson had also faced internal political challenges earlier in his career. In 1998, he quit as trade minister over accepting a loan from another minister for purchasing a house amid concerns about potential conflicts of interest. He resigned again in 2001 due to allegations of involvement in a passport scandal linked to an Indian billionaire. These incidents led to his eventual exoneration.

Currently on leave of absence from the House of Lords, Mandelson’s resignation is seen as another blow to Labour’s integrity after Andrew became embroiled in new Epstein revelations. Starmer announced publicly on Saturday that Andrew should testify before a US congressional committee regarding these connections.