Political Peer's Double Embarrassment on Dramatic Wednesday Night
Labour peer Peter Mandelson faced a night of double humiliation as fresh revelations about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged alongside an embarrassing public incident in London's Notting Hill. The 72-year-old former minister found himself at the centre of controversy after being photographed urinating against a garden wall following a late-night meeting with former Conservative chancellor George Osborne.
Epstein Email Revelations Surface During Osborne Meeting
The timing proved particularly awkward for Lord Mandelson, as his Wednesday evening visit to Mr Osborne's £10 million townhouse coincided with the publication of 20,000 documents from Epstein's estate. These papers contained emails demonstrating that the Labour peer had maintained friendly communications with the disgraced financier until late 2016 - eight years after Epstein pleaded guilty to child sex offences.
Among the disclosed correspondence was a November 2016 birthday message from Epstein, who wrote: '63 years old. You made it.' Mandelson responded with dark humour: 'Just. I have decided to extend my life by spending more of it in the US.' The exchange took a more serious turn when Epstein referenced Prince Andrew, advising: 'You were right about staying away from Andrew.'
Late-Night Incident Outside Osborne's Home
Earlier in the evening, witnesses observed Mandelson enjoying drinks with a companion at the exclusive Kensington Roof Gardens private members' club. He arrived at Osborne's Notting Hill residence around 8pm carrying a gift bag from Casa Donoso, a Chilean vineyard known for its premium Clos Centenaire wine retailing at £34.95 per bottle.
After spending approximately three hours inside the five-bedroom property where Osborne lives with his second wife Thea, Mandelson departed just before 11pm. According to an onlooker, the Labour peer appeared 'worse for wear' as he walked to a street corner and furtively urinated against a brick wall belonging to Osborne's neighbour James Reed.
The location added another layer of embarrassment, as Mr Reed - founder of Reed Recruitment - has been publicly critical of Labour's economic policies. He expressed surprise that 'whichever of my neighbours he happened to be visiting didn't offer him a toilet. It doesn't seem very diplomatic.'
A local tenant voiced stronger disapproval, commenting: 'We have to put up with this sort of revolting behaviour during the Notting Hill Carnival. It's quite outrageous that the person responsible should be a peer of the realm.'
Legal and Political Consequences
Despite the public nature of the incident, legal experts suggest Mandelson is unlikely to face prosecution. Julian Lee, a criminal defence expert at Reed's Solicitors, explained that while technically illegal under the Public Order Act 1986, urination cases typically only lead to charges if they cause alarm, distress, criminal damage, or involve sexual behaviour.
The evening's events represent another chapter in Mandelson's complicated relationship with George Osborne, which has previously caused public relations difficulties for both men. Their association dates back decades, most notably including their 2008 meeting on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska's yacht in Corfu, which led to accusations that Mandelson provided favourable treatment on aluminium tariffs during his tenure as EU trade commissioner.
Since losing his position in Washington in September - marking the third dismissal of his political career - Lord Mandelson has divided his time between a Wiltshire cottage and an £8 million Regent's Park mansion purchased in 2012.
Facing mounting embarrassment, Mandelson issued a public apology: 'I can only offer my profuse apologies. I was stood up by two Uber drivers and kept waiting in the street for half an hour and was bursting. There is no disguising my embarrassment.'
