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In a surprising turn of events, former British government minister Peter Mandelson has stepped down from his position within Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party. This decision follows fresh media reports uncovering his connections with the notorious US financier Jeffrey Epstein, which surfaced over the weekend.
Mandelson, who had already been dismissed by Starmer from his role as Britain’s ambassador to the United States last year due to previous disclosures about his association with Epstein, expressed his desire to avoid “further embarrassment” for the Labour Party. This sentiment was captured in a letter reported by several media outlets, although Reuters has yet to access the document.
“This weekend has seen further associations made between myself and the understandable uproar surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, and I deeply regret this,” Mandelson communicated in his letter, as cited by the BBC and other news platforms. He also conveyed his intention to probe the allegations regarding financial transactions from Epstein, which emerged from British media using files released by the US Justice Department, though he maintains these claims are unfounded.
Mandelson said he believed allegations about financial payments to him by Epstein, which appeared in British media based on files released by the US Justice Department, were false and he would investigate them.
“While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party,” the letter said.
Mandelson was key to the Labour Party’s electoral success when Tony Blair was prime minister starting in the 1990s.
He came under scrutiny last year after US lawmakers released documents including a letter in which he called Epstein “my best pal”, leading to his dismissal as Britain’s envoy in Washington.
Mandelson also had a turbulent earlier career in domestic politics.
In 1998, he quit as trade minister over a loan he received from a fellow minister to buy a house amid questions over conflict of interest.
A second stint in the cabinet also ended in a resignation in 2001 when he was forced out over his alleged involvement in a passport scandal involving an Indian billionaire.
He was later cleared of acting improperly.
Mandelson, a former European Union trade commissioner, is on leave of absence as a member of the upper house of Britain’s national parliament.
Separately, Starmer said on Saturday that Britain’s former Prince Andrew should testify before a US congressional committee, following new revelations about his links to Epstein.