Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday she regretted naming Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, following fresh allegations about the disgraced ambassador’s close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After growing anger from Keir Starmer’s opposition party and some members of Starmer’s own Labor Party, all documents relating to the appointment were agreed to be handed over to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee. (Reuters file photo)The UK leader was set to release documents linked to the appointment of former peer Mandelson, 72, one of a number of prominent figures embarrassed by revelations of ties to the late US financier.
“He has betrayed our country, he has lied repeatedly, he is responsible for a litany of deceptions, but this moment demands action, not just anger,” Starmer told parliament.
Starmer accused the former minister and EU trade commissioner of “repeatedly” failing to disclose the full extent of his relationship with Epstein when vetting him for the role in Washington last year.
After growing anger from the opposition party and some members of Starmer’s own Labor Party, all documents relating to the recruitment were agreed to be handed over to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.
The prime minister’s ruling is under scrutiny following fresh allegations that Mandelson passed on confidential and potentially market-sensitive information to Epstein nearly two decades ago.
“He repeatedly lied to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador,” Starmer told MPs during a parliamentary grilling.
“I regret hiring him. Had I known what I know now, he would never have been in government.”
UK police announced they were investigating the claims, which stemmed from email exchanges between Mandelson and Epstein that revealed their heated relationship and financial dealings, as well as private photos.
At the time, Epstein served 18 months in prison in Florida in 2008-2009 for soliciting a minor, while Mandelson was a UK government minister.
The emails were part of a massive trove of files about Epstein released by the US Department of Justice.
– ‘Liberation Day’ -Epstein was facing charges of alleged sex trafficking when he committed suicide in prison in 2019.
Mandelson, a key and divisive figure in British politics for decades, had a checkered career and resigned from government twice over alleged misconduct.
Sturmer fired him as ambassador in September after just seven months in the post before the files about Epstein were released.
On Tuesday, Mandelson resigned from Parliament’s upper house – the unelected House of Lords – following the release of the latest files.
Other recent emails show Mandelson celebrating the American financier’s release from prison in July 2009 as “Emancipation Day”.
A day later, Mandelson asked Epstein: “How does freedom feel?” Epstein replied: “She feels fresh, firm and creamy.”
Mandelson then replied: “Naughty boy.”
The lewd comments were condemned by UK MPs, who pressed Starmer to explain his decision to offer Mandelson the ambassadorship in February 2025.
“Did he think of Epstein’s victims?” asked Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey.
Promising to release the verification documents, Starmer said he wanted MPs to see “how Mandelson completely misrepresented the extent of his relationship with Epstein”.
– Criminal investigation -London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed on Tuesday that they had opened an investigation into Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
If charged and convicted, he could face prison terms.
The latest batch of US documents show that Mandelson sent an economic briefing to Epstein in 2009 for then-prime minister Gordon Brown.
The latest disclosures show that Epstein appears to have transferred a total of $75,000 in three payments between 2003 and 2004 to accounts linked to the British politician.
Mandelson told the BBC he had no recollection of the money being transferred and did not know whether the documents were genuine.
The EU is also investigating whether Mandelson breached any of its rules when he was trade commissioner from 2004-2008.
The former minister, who is gay, had previously claimed that he was excluded from Epstein’s sexual activities.
