Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, has been dismissed after fresh revelations exposed the depth of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The scandal marks a major blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is already facing mounting political pressure.
Mounting pressure on Mandelson
The controversy escalated after US lawmakers released Epstein’s so-called “birthday book,” in which Mandelson described Epstein as “my best pal.” Despite defending Mandelson in parliament just hours earlier, Starmer was forced into a U-turn after Bloomberg published leaked emails between Mandelson and Epstein.
The emails revealed Mandelson offered political support to Epstein following his 2008 conviction for prostitution charges in Florida. In one exchange, Mandelson told Epstein: “I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened,” and even advised him to use strategies from Sun Tzu’s Art of War to fight back.
Foreign Office statement
The Foreign Office said Mandelson’s removal was due to the “depth and extent” of his relationship with Epstein being “materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.” The ministry stressed that Mandelson’s defense of Epstein’s 2008 conviction as wrongful was “new information,” which made his position untenable.
Repeat scandals
This is the third time Mandelson has been forced to resign from senior office due to scandal. He had long dismissed questions about his friendship with Epstein as media “obsession,” but his handwritten note in Epstein’s birthday book and the leaked emails proved more damaging. In a recent interview, Mandelson admitted the correspondence was “very embarrassing” and expressed regret for trusting Epstein’s assurances.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s role
The 238-page “birthday book,” compiled by Epstein’s then-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, contained personal notes and photographs of Mandelson and Epstein. Maxwell was convicted in 2022 of sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The resurfacing of this material reignited scrutiny of Mandelson’s past ties.
Political fallout for Starmer
The dismissal creates another political headache for Prime Minister Starmer, who is facing questions over his judgment in appointing Mandelson despite longstanding concerns about his relationship with Epstein. With UK fertility, migration, and economic debates dominating domestic politics, this scandal risks further weakening Starmer’s standing at a critical time.
