British leader Keir Starmer dismissed his Washington ambassador, Peter Mandelson, on Thursday due to new revelations about Mandelson’s ties with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Known as the “Prince of Darkness” during his time as a media strategist, Mandelson resigned twice from Tony Blair’s Labour government in the late 1990s and early 2000s over misconduct allegations.
The foreign ministry announced that the prime minister asked Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to recall Mandelson as ambassador “in light” of newly uncovered emails he sent to Epstein.
“The emails reveal that the depth and scope of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein are significantly different from what was known at the time of his appointment,” the statement said.
“Specifically, Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be contested is new information.
“Given this, and considering Epstein’s victims, he has been removed as ambassador effective immediately.”
The dismissal followed reports by The Sun and Bloomberg that Mandelson had sent supportive emails to Epstein while he was under investigation in the US for sexual offences in 2008.
In these emails, the Labour party figurehead assured Epstein that he was “closely following” his case and was available “whenever you need,” urging him to “remember the Art of War” when dealing with prosecutors.
Mandelson also reportedly advised Epstein to “fight for early release” just before Epstein was sentenced to 18 months for procuring a child for prostitution.
“I think the world of you,” Mandelson, a former Labour minister and ex-European trade commissioner, wrote the day before Epstein’s sentencing.
Following the reports, the 71-year-old Mandelson told the BBC he had “relied on assurances of his innocence that later proved devastatingly false”.
– ‘Best Friend’ –
“His lawyers claimed it was a shakedown, a criminal conspiracy. I foolishly trusted them, which I regret to this day,” he added.
The prominent dismissal occurs just a week before US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative party, described Mandelson’s position as “untenable”.
At least three Labour MPs publicly urged Starmer to act, including Andy McDonald, who insisted Mandelson “should leave immediately”.
Starmer appointed Mandelson to the crucial diplomatic role earlier this year to foster a close relationship with Trump.
The prime minister expressed confidence in Mandelson just Wednesday, asserting that “due process was observed” before his appointment.
This support came after it was revealed that Mandelson referred to Epstein as his “best friend” and an “intelligent, sharp-witted man” in a 2003 letter.
The letter was part of a collection compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday, later published by a US congressional panel investigating Epstein’s sex crimes.
Mandelson told The Sun he deeply regretted “associating with Epstein for far longer than I should have. “
