Immigration minister Mike Tapp has described Peter Mandelson's messages to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as 'disturbing and sickening', adding that it is 'important that we get to the bottom of this'. However, he insisted that Prime Minister Keir Starmer retains confidence in the US ambassador.
Tapp said he personally 'shuddered' at the emails, which were sent in 2008 while Epstein faced charges for soliciting sex from underage girls. In the correspondence, Mandelson urged Epstein to 'fight for early release' and assured him that 'your friends stay with you and love you'. The minister said the messages left 'a bad taste in the mouth'.
The Conservatives and Scottish National Party have called for Mandelson's resignation, while the Liberal Democrats have demanded an investigation into whether he broke the diplomatic code. Downing Street has insisted that 'due process' was followed before his appointment as US ambassador.
Tapp told Sky News he would support MPs if they summoned Mandelson to give evidence to a parliamentary inquiry. He added that Starmer's statement in the Commons on Wednesday expressing confidence in the ambassador's ability 'is still relevant', but could not say whether that would change.
In a statement, Mandelson said he 'relied on assurances of his innocence that turned out later to be horrendously false' and that he 'foolishly relied on their word, which I regret to this day'. He described Epstein as a 'charismatic criminal liar' and admitted more 'very embarrassing' details of their friendship would emerge.
