Lord Peter Mandelson has been dismissed from his post as UK ambassador to the United States after days of escalating criticism regarding his links to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed on Thursday that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acted after fresh details emerged in emails written by Mandelson, uncovering far closer and more supportive ties to Epstein than previously known.
Mandelson called Epstein ‘best pal’
The newly released correspondence not only revealed Mandelson calling Epstein his “best pal” in a birthday book, but also showed him commending Epstein’s “interesting friends” and expressing loyalty through the financier’s criminal proceedings.
In emails from the time of Epstein’s first conviction, Mandelson told him: “Your friends stay with you and love you,” and advised him to “fight for early release” while referencing Sun Tzu’s Art of War.
The ambassador also suggested that Epstein’s conviction was unjust and should be challenged—statements now described by government officials as “disturbing and uncomfortable”.
Though Prime Minister Starmer had insisted just a day prior that he retained confidence in Mandelson, the mounting pressure from both opposition Conservatives and Labour members became impossible to ignore.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the revelations “sickening,” demanding immediate action.
Labour MPs and ethics advisers urged for a deeper inquiry, highlighting double standards around disciplinary action for party members versus high-level diplomatic appointments.
Sacking comes ahead of Trump’s state visit
Mandelson’s abrupt removal comes just one week before President Donald Trump’s scheduled state visit to the UK—a significant diplomatic event that puts further strain on Starmer’s government.
Besides the diplomatic fallout, questions now loom over the vetting process for such senior posts, given Mandelson’s prior resignations over controversy and his high-profile career at the heart of British politics.
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