Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson from his position as UK ambassador to the United States due to controversy over his association with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement published on Thursday 11 September, the Foreign Office confirmed that Starmer has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw Mandelson from his role as ambassador.
This decision was made due to the emergence of additional emails written by Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein, of which the government said it was not aware at the time of his appointment to the position.
“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,” the Foreign Office said.
“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“In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes, he has been withdrawn as Ambassador with immediate effect,” it added.
These additional emails follow the recent publication of Mandelson’s heartfelt birthday letter to Epstein as part of the alleged Epstein ‘birthday book’ made available by the House Oversight Committee in the United States.
Mandelson’s departure comes only a day after Starmer endured brutal questioning over his ambassador’s association with Epstein in Prime Minister’s Questions.
Responding to questions from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and others, Starmer at the time said he supported Mandelson and that the proper vetting process was followed.
Badenoch noted that Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of child prostitution and sex trafficking that took place between 2002 and 2005, and that during this period, Lord Mandelson called Jeffrey Epstein his ‘best pal’ and continued an association with him.
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