Peter Mandelson has resigned his membership of the Labour party to avoid causing it “further embarrassment” after fresh revelations about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former UK ambassador to the US stepped down on Sunday evening, writing to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley to announce his departure.
In his resignation letter, Mandelson said he was “regretful and sorry” about being linked to the Epstein furore. He stated that allegations of financial payments from Epstein 20 years ago, which he believes are false and of which he has no record, require investigation. “While doing this, I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party,” he wrote.
The resignation follows the release of documents by the US Department of Justice on Friday, which appear to show Epstein sent Mandelson $75,000 in three separate payments of $25,000 from his JP Morgan bank accounts. Mandelson said he has no record or recollection of receiving these sums and does not know if the documents are authentic.
Conservative party officials have called for an independent investigation into Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of lacking “backbone” to take action. Housing minister Steve Reed said Mandelson has a “moral obligation” to share what he knows about Epstein, but declined to comment on whether he should be stripped of his peerage.
Mandelson reiterated his apology to the women and girls affected by Epstein, stating he was wrong to continue his association with the financier. He has been on leave from the House of Lords since his ambassadorial role and does not currently hold the Labour whip.
