Lord Mandelson Sacked as UK Ambassador to US Amid Epstein Scandal
In a dramatic turn of events, Lord Peter Mandelson has been sacked as the UK ambassador to the United States following revelations of his links to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed on Thursday that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acted swiftly after new emails emerged, showing Mandelson’s far closer ties to Epstein than previously disclosed.
#BREAKING | UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sacked Lord Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US amid scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson admitted to maintaining contact long after Epstein’s 2008 arrest and conviction. pic.twitter.com/RjhTXkotp3
— The Global Eye (@TGEThGlobalEye) September 11, 2025
Mandelson’s ‘Best Pal’ Comments Raise Eyebrows
The correspondence, now public, includes Mandelson referring to Epstein as his “best pal” in a birthday book. He also praised Epstein’s “interesting friends” and voiced support during the financier’s criminal cases.
In one striking email from the period of Epstein’s first conviction, Mandelson wrote: “Your friends stay with you and love you,” advising him to “fight for early release” and referencing Sun Tzu’s Art of War.
Government officials have described the messages as “disturbing and uncomfortable,” highlighting the ambassador’s apparent attempts to challenge the legitimacy of Epstein’s conviction.
Pressure Mounts on Starmer
Just a day before the dismissal, Prime Minister Starmer had expressed continued confidence in Mandelson. However, mounting criticism from both opposition Conservatives and members of Labour made the position untenable.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled the exposures “repulsive” and called for immediate action. Meanwhile, Labour MPs and ethics counsels pushed for a further thorough disquisition, pressing perceived double norms in handling correctional issues for party members versus elderly politicians.
Timing Adds Political Strain
Mandelson’s abrupt sacking comes a week before President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, a major political event.
The timing adds fresh pressure on Starmer’s government as it navigates the fallout.
Questions are now arising over the vetting process for high-position political posts, particularly given Mandelson’s controversial history and former appointments to crucial political positions.
This reproach marks a major embarrassment for the UK government and raises wider concerns over responsibility in elderly political movers.
