Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has dismissed Peter Mandelson from his role as UK ambassador to the US following revelations about his longstanding ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted child sex offender.

Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty informed Parliament that Mandelson had failed to disclose the extent and depth of his relationship with Epstein when he was appointed. Newly surfaced emails show Mandelson defending Epstein’s 2008 conviction, calling it wrongful and encouraging him to challenge it.

A Foreign Office spokesperson stated, “In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador."

The statement emphasized that the contents of the emails significantly altered the government’s understanding of Mandelson’s association with Epstein.

Fallout within Labour Party, government

The political consequences were swift. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, called the messages “completely disgusting” and said Mandelson’s future was “a decision for the prime minister.”

Starmer made the decision after reviewing the emails alongside Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Government sources indicated that the material had not previously been available to Mandelson, as it came from an old and deleted email account.

Mandelson’s dismissal occurs as Downing Street prepares for a state visit by US President Donald Trump, who has also faced scrutiny over his own ties to Epstein. James Roscoe, the deputy head of mission in Washington, will serve as interim ambassador.

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Mandelson’s links to Epstein reignite scrutiny

While it was known that Mandelson had interacted with Epstein following his 2008 conviction, the nature of their correspondence had not been made public until now.

In one email from June 2008, Mandelson wrote to Epstein, “I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened… You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can.”

Mandelson also appeared in Epstein’s handwritten “birthday book”, where he was referred to as “my best pal.” These details were released by Democratic members of the US House Oversight Committee earlier in the week.

Succession, diplomatic repercussions

Mandelson's removal leaves a vacancy at a critical moment in UK-US relations. Karen Pierce, who previously served as ambassador, is reportedly being considered to return to the post. Other names on the original shortlist include David Miliband and Cathy Ashton.

The diplomatic shakeup comes amid growing public and parliamentary demand for transparency, especially given the sensitivity surrounding Mandelson's defense of Epstein’s conviction.

Mounting pressure on Keir Starmer

Opposition figures quickly seized on the scandal to criticize Starmer’s judgment.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on Starmer to explain what he knew and when. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said, “Mandelson might have gone but, just as with Angela Rayner, Starmer dithered when he needed to be decisive.”

Stephen Flynn, the Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader, added that Starmer’s “judgment, his reputation and his authority are now on the line.”

Some Labour MPs expressed frustration that another scandal had erupted so soon after Rayner resigned over her tax affairs. However, former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman placed the blame on Mandelson, saying it was “shameful” that he had accepted the ambassador role knowing the full extent of the correspondence with Epstein.

Starmer had defended Mandelson during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, stating the ambassador had undergone full vetting. That defense collapsed after the emails were published by The Sun, and Mandelson admitted more “very embarrassing” details could surface.

He insisted he had never witnessed any “wrongdoing".