Mandelson-Epstein Files: Starmer Demands Lords Reform as New Photos Emerge
The latest tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice has ignited a political firestorm in Westminster, revealing previously undisclosed communications between the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the Labour peer Lord Peter Mandelson. The files, made public on Friday, contain a June 2009 email in which Epstein directly approached Lord Mandelson, then serving as Business Secretary, seeking international advertising opportunities for the Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Email Reveals Endorsement Request
In the email, Epstein wrote to Lord Mandelson: 'Can you think of anyone in India china, japan„ etc, that might want the endorsement of Leonardo DiCaprio„ russia etc.. cars etc„ he is looking for non-u.s. products to endorse to make some momey [sic].' This correspondence forms part of a broader cache of three million documents that appear to demonstrate a sustained and close contact between the peer and the disgraced financier during a period when Mandelson was at the heart of Number 10, dealing with the financial crisis.
Political Fury and Calls for Action
The revelations have provoked fury from MPs across the political spectrum, with many demanding 'immediate' legislation to remove Lord Mandelson's title and bar him from ever entering Parliament again. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has stated unequivocally that the 72-year-old peer should no longer be a member of the House of Lords. Starmer has called on the upper chamber to urgently adapt its disciplinary procedures to create a mechanism for stripping peers of their titles, a move that comes as police review reports of alleged misconduct in public office.
Sensitive Government Information Allegedly Leaked
Beyond the DiCaprio email, the newly released files suggest a deeply troubling relationship. They appear to show that Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive UK government information to Epstein. This includes emails apparently forwarded by the peer in 2009 containing discussions between senior Downing Street aides and ministers concerning the UK's response to the Credit Crunch and which government assets might be considered 'saleable'. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has demanded a Cabinet Office probe into what he termed the 'wholly unacceptable' disclosure of details from his government's handling of the financial crisis.
Financial Transactions and Lobbying Efforts
The documents also indicate substantial financial links. Bank statements suggest Epstein made three separate $25,000 transactions referencing Lord Mandelson between 2003 and 2004. Separate emails show that in 2009, Epstein personally wired $10,000 to Lord Mandelson's now-husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, to fund an osteopathy course and other expenses. Furthermore, other documents appear to show Lord Mandelson advising Epstein on how to lobby against the bankers' bonus tax introduced in December 2009, with one exchange suggesting the peer was 'trying hard' to amend the policy.
Embarrassing Photographs Surface
Adding to the controversy, new photographs have emerged. One shows Lord Mandelson standing in his underpants while chatting to a woman wearing a white bathrobe. Another, released today, depicts him with a broad grin receiving a foot massage. The peer has stated he has 'no idea' what he was doing in the first photograph or who the woman was, suggesting she may have been showing him something on an iPad.
Lord Mandelson's Response and Regret
In response to the allegations, Lord Mandelson has expressed deep regret for maintaining contact with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. He told The Times, 'He was a master manipulator. I can see that now. But the point is that his victims certainly did know what he was doing.' He claims he only fully grasped the extent of Epstein's crimes after his death in 2019 and has apologised to the victims. On the alleged $75,000 in payments, he insists he has 'absolutely no recollection or records' of receiving the money.
Celebrity Name-Dropping Debunked
The files also shed light on Epstein's habit of celebrity name-dropping. In a deposition, an accuser, Johanna Sjoberg, clarified that while Epstein would claim to be on the phone with stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett during massages, she herself never met them. Representatives for both DiCaprio and Blanchett have previously denied any calls or meetings with the convicted sex offender, characterising Epstein's boasts as spurious and exaggerated bluster.
The scandal continues to unfold, placing immense pressure on the House of Lords to reform its accountability measures and raising serious questions about the boundaries between powerful political figures and wealthy, influential individuals with criminal pasts.
