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BumRushDaShow

(160,105 posts) Thu Sep 11, 2025, 06:32 AM Thursday

Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein ties

Last edited Thu Sep 11, 2025, 08:07 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Guardian

Thu 11 Sep 2025 06.15 EDT
First published on Thu 11 Sep 2025 05.55 EDT

Keir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US over his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that Mandelson had not disclosed the extent and depth of his friendship with Epstein, a convicted child sex offender, when he was appointed as the ambassador.

He said No 10 had not known about emails from Mandelson to Epstein suggesting his 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution was wrongful and should be challenged.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “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 emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment. In particular, Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information. “In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes, he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/11/keir-starmer-sacks-peter-mandelson-over-jeffrey-epstein-revelations

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"

Article updated.

Original article/headline -

Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein revelations

Thu 11 Sep 2025 06.15 EDT
First published on Thu 11 Sep 2025 05.55 EDT

Keir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US over his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that Mandelson had not disclosed the extent and depth of his friendship with Epstein, a paedophile financier, when he was appointed as the ambassador.

He said No 10 had not known about emails from Mandelson to Epstein suggesting his 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution was wrongful and should be challenged.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “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 emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment. In particular, Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information. “In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes, he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”

8 replies

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Highlight:

Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein ties (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Thursday OP

Is "vetting" a word that exists in British English as well as on this side of the pond? hatrack Thursday #1

They might have to fire half the British government and a Royal Prince. Irish_Dem Thursday #2

Or they did, but ... boys will be boys prevailed. littlemissmartypants Thursday #3

I doubt political vetting often goes to the extent of "show us all the emails you've ever written" ... but ... muriel_volestrangler Thursday #5

And another one, and another one bites the dust. Not in trump's world though. His deep involvement with teen girl sex... brush Thursday #4

Starmer knew exactly what Mandelson was Ponietz Thursday #6

Link to live thread from BBC nitpicked Thursday #7

The article has one thing right...... Butterflylady Thursday #8

hatrack

(63,552 posts)

1. Is "vetting" a word that exists in British English as well as on this side of the pond?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Sep 11, 2025, 06:37 AM

Thursday

Jesus, you'd think Labor could do a better job than this . . .

Irish_Dem

(74,770 posts)

2. They might have to fire half the British government and a Royal Prince.

Reply to hatrack (Reply #1)

Thu Sep 11, 2025, 06:40 AM

Thursday

littlemissmartypants

(29,741 posts)

3. Or they did, but ... boys will be boys prevailed.

Reply to hatrack (Reply #1)

Thu Sep 11, 2025, 06:42 AM

Thursday

muriel_volestrangler

(104,693 posts)

5. I doubt political vetting often goes to the extent of "show us all the emails you've ever written" ... but ...

Reply to hatrack (Reply #1)

Thu Sep 11, 2025, 07:45 AM

Thursday

Last edited Thu Sep 11, 2025, 08:46 AM - Edit history (2)

They would have known he had been an Epstein friend, and they took his word (he had been a power in the party for decades) that all that was then public was all there was. Taking Mandelson's word was a dubious thing to do, though - this is the third time he's had to resign/be sacked (first in 1998 for an undisclosed loan from a fellow minister, then in 2001 over a British passport for an Indian billionaire).

When Starmer appointed him as ambassador, I thought "why bring him back? He's too slippery."

On edit: I've added "...but..." to the title because:

The diplomat’s close relationship with Epstein was also brought to light in 2019 in an internal report from JPMorgan Chase. That report, filed in a New York court in 2023, said Mandelson planned to stay at Epstein’s Manhattan apartment in 2009, while the latter was serving what was initially an 18-month sentence related to charges of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/5495866-peter-mandelson/

If a court filing recorded they were that close after the conviction and it was reported in British media, it should have been investigated properly. Yes, that's a failure of vetting.