UK Prime Minister Dismisses Ambassador After Epstein Emails Revealed
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has fired Peter Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to the United States, following the release of emails that expose his closer ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than previously believed.
The emails, published by The Sun newspaper, show Mandelson offering support to Epstein in 2008, during the latter’s legal troubles over soliciting prostitution from a minor. At that time, Mandelson encouraged Epstein to “fight for early release” and expressed admiration for him, saying, “I think the world of you,” just before Epstein began his 18-month prison sentence.
Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty stated in the House of Commons that the decision to let Mandelson go was due to the new information revealed in the emails. The Foreign Office’s official statement noted, “The emails indicate that the depth of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein is significantly different from what was known when he was appointed.”
These revelations followed a recent release from the U.S. House Oversight Committee, which included a 2003 birthday album for Epstein. In this album, Mandelson had referred to Epstein as “my best pal” in a handwritten note.
The disclosures have sparked calls for action from political opponents, with demands for Mandelson’s resignation coming from Conservatives and the Scottish National Party, while the Liberal Democrats are calling for a full investigation.
Mandelson played a key role in the resurgence of the Labor Party under former Prime Minister Tony Blair. He served in several prominent Cabinet positions, including trade secretary and Northern Ireland secretary, and was also the European Union’s trade commissioner from 2004 to 2008.
Recently, he met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office during the announcement of a limited U.S.-UK trade deal in May.
