Pressure Intensifies on Mandelson to Resign Over Epstein Communications
Pressure is mounting on Lord Peter Mandelson to resign from the House of Lords following the release of documents by the US Department of Justice that indicate he passed sensitive government information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly stated that Lord Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title, though he lacks the direct power to strip him of his peerage.
Urgent Review and Police Investigation Demands
Sir Keir has tasked Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald with conducting an urgent review into all available information regarding Mandelson's contacts with Epstein during his tenure as a government minister. This comes after former Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed he had previously requested an investigation into the disclosure of confidential and market-sensitive information during the global financial crisis.
The Liberal Democrats, SNP, and Plaid Cymru have all called for a police investigation into Lord Mandelson for potential misconduct in public office. Cabinet Minister Bridget Phillipson described the situation as as serious as it gets and stated that if evidence of criminality exists, it should be pursued.
Revelations from Released Documents
The documents suggest that while serving as Business Secretary under Gordon Brown, Lord Mandelson:
- Sent internal government discussions to Epstein following the global financial crisis.
- Appeared to lobby ministers over a tax on bankers' bonuses in 2009, with encouragement from Epstein.
- Confirmed an imminent €500 billion eurozone bailout package to Epstein the day before its official announcement in May 2010.
Email exchanges from December 2009 show Epstein asking about making the tax only on the cash portion of the bankers bonus, with Mandelson replying he was trying hard to amend it and that the Treasury [was] digging in but I am on case. Further emails indicate Mandelson encouraged JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon to call then-Chancellor Alistair Darling and mildly threaten him regarding the tax.
Financial Transactions and Disciplinary Actions
Bank statements from 2003-2004 appear to show Mandelson received payments totalling $75,000 (£54,000) from Epstein, who also paid for an osteopathy course for Mandelson's husband in 2009. In response to the allegations, Lord Mandelson has resigned his Labour membership, stating he is facing a disciplinary process and wishes to investigate allegations which I believe to be false while avoiding further embarrassment to the party.
Calls for Lords Reform and Modernisation
Sir Keir has urged the House of Lords to collaborate with the Government to modernise disciplinary procedures, making it easier to remove disgraced peers. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones announced the Government is writing to appropriate authorities to start this process, advocating for updated procedures that apply to all members rather than requiring complex legislation for individual cases.
Currently, removing a peerage requires new legislation—a step last taken over a century ago against nobles who sided with Germany in WWI. There is no precedent for using new laws to remove a specific individual from the Lords. Lord Mandelson, currently on leave from the chamber, could resign voluntarily to avoid further proceedings.
The Metropolitan Police have been contacted regarding the allegations, as has Lord Mandelson, who has previously apologised to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now. He was dismissed as ambassador to Washington last year after details emerged of his continued contact with Epstein following Epstein's 2008 guilty plea.
