Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a Labour revolt over his handling of the Lord Mandelson scandal.
In a statement published on Thursday (11 September), the Foreign Office confirmed that Starmer has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw Lord Peter Mandelson from his role as ambassador due to controversy over his association with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
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“In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes, he has been withdrawn as Ambassador with immediate effect,” it added.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.
The Telegraph reports that figures in Labour have now raised concerns about the judgment of the Prime Minister, who has now lost a second senior government figure in less than a week after the departure of Angela Rayner.
Several backbenchers directly questioned Mandelson’s appointment on social media and Starmer’s perceived poor judgement in appointing him.
Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester who is widely tipped to run again for the party leadership, said Sir Keir had questions to answer.
“I wasn’t privy to the vetting process, so I don’t know what was known at the time, and I think people will want to question that now in the hours and days ahead.”
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