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Sir Keir Starmer is facing scrutiny regarding his awareness of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to his appointment as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.
The Prime Minister dismissed Lord Mandelson on Thursday following the public disclosure of messages exchanged with Epstein in 2008, while the latter was facing charges related to soliciting sex with a minor.
According to the government, the dismissal was prompted by the emergence of emails demonstrating “the depth and extent” of the connection between the two men, a relationship that was “materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.”
Conservative Party members have urged the publication of all vetting materials, communications, and documentation relevant to Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
Reports in The Sun and Bloomberg on Wednesday evening indicated that Lord Mandelson allegedly advised Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before his sentencing to 18 months in prison. He also reportedly told Epstein, “I think the world of you” the day before Epstein began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson described the emails as “reprehensible.”
On Wednesday, Lord Mandelson stated that he “foolishly” relied on assurances of Epstein’s innocence, a decision he “regret[s] to this day.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch asserted that the Prime Minister had “failed yet another key test of leadership.”
She cited Sir Keir’s public support for Lord Mandelson during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
“He is a weak prime minister, who doesn’t have the courage to do the right thing at the right time,” she added.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated that the Prime Minister “needs to come before Parliament and explain why Lord Mandelson was appointed in the first place, given everything the government knew then.”
In a letter to staff at the British embassy in Washington, Lord Mandelson described his ambassadorship as “the privilege of my life.”
He expressed “deep regret” regarding the circumstances of his departure and reiterated that he continues “to feel utterly awful about my association with Epstein twenty years ago and the plight of his victims.”
“In a short time we have achieved so much,” he said.
“We leave the relationship with the US in a really good condition, with a magnificent state visit and the new US-UK Technology Partnership – my personal pride and joy that will help write the next chapter of the special relationship – set for next week.”
Downing Street has announced that James Roscoe has assumed the role of interim ambassador to the US and will oversee the upcoming state visit.
He was appointed Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Washington in July 2022 and previously served as the UK’s ambassador to the UN General Assembly.
Sources at the BBC indicate that the decision to dismiss Lord Mandelson was reached during a meeting on Thursday morning between the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
The BBC has learned that the information made public on Wednesday evening was not accessible to government officials at the time of Lord Mandelson’s appointment, as it originated from what has been described as a “long closed” email address.
Lord Mandelson also lacked access to these emails, and the Prime Minister reviewed the material on Wednesday night.
Government officials maintain that the standard vetting procedure was followed during the ambassador’s appointment.
Lord Mandelson was generally considered to have performed effectively as ambassador to the US, particularly due to his capacity to work with the Trump administration.
However, questions concerning his prior friendship with Epstein – a matter of public record – have shadowed him since his appointment by Sir Keir in December.
The pair’s association – and its continuation after Epstein’s conviction – factored into the Prime Minister’s considerations when determining the UK’s ambassador to Washington.
“The Epstein stuff in broad terms was definitely known and discussed in detail before his appointment,” said one source.
According to another insider, Lord Mandelson was “specifically asked about the association with Epstein” as part of the Cabinet Office vetting process and was “clear about it.”
News reports prior to his appointment detailed contact between the two men even after Epstein’s conviction for the sexual abuse of underage girls.
Nevertheless, Sir Keir, alongside his top foreign affairs advisor Jonathan Powell and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, calculated that Lord Mandelson’s skills outweighed the potential risks.
“If you look at his success in the role, the reasons for appointing him were vindicated,” said a friend of the peer.
“He’s been good on trade and built a strong relationship with the White House. He’s been exemplary.”
Sources at the BBC indicate that the decision to dismiss Lord Mandelson was reached during a meeting on Thursday morning between the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
The BBC has learned that the information made public on Wednesday evening was not accessible to government officials at the time of Lord Mandelson’s appointment, as it originated from what has been described as a “long closed” email address.
Lord Mandelson also lacked access to these emails, and the Prime Minister reviewed the material on Wednesday night.
Government officials maintain that the standard vetting procedure was followed during the ambassador’s appointment.
The friendship between Lord Mandelson and Epstein was thrust back into the spotlight on Tuesday, when US lawmakers released documents including a letter from Lord Mandelson addressing Epstein as his “best pal”.
The alleged “birthday book” presented to Epstein in 2003 to celebrate his 50th birthday also contained messages, cards, and photos sent by his friends, including a letter bearing a signature resembling that of President Trump. Trump has denied writing the note.
Epstein was a well-connected financier convicted in Florida in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a person under the age of 18. He died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Lord Mandelson has been a fixture in British politics for four decades and played a pivotal role in the New Labour movement, which led to Tony Blair’s landslide victory in the 1997 election.
He held ministerial positions in various government departments until Labour lost power in 2010, during which time he developed a reputation for resilience after twice being compelled to resign from his ministerial roles.
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