Keir Starmer sacks Lord Mandelson as ambassador to US over Epstein friendship
Lord Peter Mandelson has been withdrawn as ambassador to the US after emails revealed the depth of his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Keir Starmer, who picked the Labour grandee to be the UK’s representative in Washington, made the decision after emails showed the peer sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences.
The Foreign Office said the emails showed “the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”.
Withdrawn
He has now been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.
Lord Mandelson is reported to have told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and told him, “I think the world of you” the day before he began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
Emails
The Prime Minister had defended Lord Mandelson until the emergence of the emails, insisting he had gone through a proper vetting process and had helped build a successful relationship with Donald Trump’s White House.
Lord Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein had been known about, but Bloomberg and The Sun published emails showing that the relationship continued after the crimes committed by the financier had emerged.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that information had not been known when Lord Mandelson was appointed.
He told MPs the emails showed “the depth and extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”.
He added: “In particular, Lord Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.
“And in light of that, and mindful, as we all are, of the victims of Epstein’s appalling crimes, he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”
The cache of emails obtained by Bloomberg showed that on the day before Epstein reported to jail in June 2008, Lord Mandelson told him “your friends stay with you and love you”.
He said: “You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can.
“The whole thing has been years of torture and now you have to show the world how big a person you are and how strong.”
Lord Mandelson’s position had appeared increasingly precarious after the release of the emails drew public criticism from members of the Government.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was “completely disgusted” by the messages, while Home Office minister Mike Tapp said they “really disturbing and sickening”.
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader said: “Just yesterday, Keir Starmer defended Peter Mandelson and expressed confidence in him, while MPs looked on incredulously.
“He took far too long to act this week, but appointing Mandelson as US Ambassador in the first place despite his well-known close friendship with his ‘best pal’ Jeffrey Epstein shows deeper failings in political instincts.
“This is hardly the first time the Prime Minister’s cloth-eared judgement has allowed issues to snowball. It all points to something deeply wrong at the heart of Starmer’s government, and Welsh Labour MPs should surely question how much longer they can stand by in silence.”
The timing of Mr Mandelson’s sacking also causes a diplomatic headache ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit next week, with the US president facing questions over his own ties with Epstein.
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Good. Slimy barsteward.
Labour dun goofed. His friendship with Epstein was well known before he was appointed in his current role. Either the PM should have continued to support him, or should not have hired him in the first place.
The idea that such information was ‘materially different’ smacks of incompetence. Everyone knew.
When you have an unelected bureaucrat like shady Peter Mandelson refer to convicted paedophile Geoffrey Epstein as, “my best friend”, then once a convicted sex offender, later text him numerous times offering him advice and support while showing no empathy or compassion towards his victims. There could only be one outcome. This not only is another nail in autocratic Labour’s coffin, but again calls into question Keir Starmer’s judgment. He’s a liability. I think both should have been sacked for their impropriety.
What about frump ‘s connection to epstein? He hasn’t released the epstein files like he promised?
Not within the competence of UK Gov to hire or fire him. That’s up to the people of USA and they are not losing sleep over it ….yet.
If he’s hanging around with “that” crowd, maybe he’s more suited to reform anyway.
None of this comes as any surprise to me. Starmer sought Mandelson’s advice assiduously before getting elected, and the Ambassador’s job was his reward. Who can forget Mandelson fawning over Trump in the Oval Office? The Prince of Darkness is, like his acolyte Starmer, ready to U-turn and do anything. Expediency seems to be their only driving motive. During his chaotic year, Starmer has rushed around trying to look tough by sacking ministers and expelling MPs who might disagree with him. However, he is the one who should go. Opinion polls show that Starmer has the lowest ratings ever and… Read more »
It does explain how he ‘ had helped build a successful relationship with Donald Trump’s White House.’ All the sordid gangsters helping each other to get away with their crimes. It does make you wonder just how widespread this is.
In politics “sacking” a member means that he or she will reappear later on in another political role with more money. How much of a pay-off will he get I wonder?