The former United Kingdom ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, has announced his resignation from the House of Lords, effective Wednesday. This move comes as a scandal intensifies over his relationships with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson, who served as a Labour government minister and European Union trade commissioner, had previously resigned from the upper house of parliament on Wednesday. Speaker Michael Forsyth confirmed this announcement to members.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned Mandelson’s actions, stating that releasing sensitive government emails “was disgraceful.” The prime minister expressed concern over the full extent of Mandelson’s involvement with Epstein and committed to drafting legislation to strip him of his peerage if necessary. Starmer also stated that cooperation would be provided for any police inquiries into the matter.
Following these revelations, London’s Metropolitan Police is reviewing reports alleging misconduct in a public office by Mandelson, potentially leading to criminal investigation. The scandal has further tarnished Mandelson’s reputation and cast its shadow over politics both in Washington and Europe.
Last September, Starmer had dismissed Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States amidst growing concerns about his ties to Epstein. Now, his decision to appoint Mandelson as an envoy is under scrutiny again.
Earlier this month, the US Justice Department released additional pages from its Epstein files, adding further pressure on President Donald Trump who sought months-long efforts to prevent these documents’ release.
Notably, former US presidents Bill and Hillary Clinton have been invited to testify in a House of Representatives investigation into Epstein’s activities. Neither the Trumps nor the Clintons are accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
The European Commission has also expressed interest in assessing Mandelson’s compliance with its code of conduct regarding his ties to Epstein. His resignation from Labour was announced on Sunday as a means of preventing further embarrassment for the party from the mounting revelations.
Mandelson, now 72 years old, recently stated during an interview with the BBC that he could not recall the money transfers mentioned in the documents and questioned their authenticity. Starmer’s response to this comment highlighted public trust in political figures being severely undermined by these events.