Peter Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords following revelations that he shared confidential government emails with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former business secretary under Gordon Brown sent briefings to Epstein, including details of actions taken during the 2008 financial crisis.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the leaks as “appalling” and has referred the matter to the police. He told the cabinet on Tuesday that he had asked officials to draft legislation to strip Mandelson of his peerage, though this can only be done by an act of parliament. A Downing Street spokesperson said it was “right” that Mandelson was quitting, adding that he had “let his country down”.
The leaked emails include a confidential document outlining potential £20bn asset sales, early confirmation of a €500bn European bailout, and Mandelson’s claim that he was “trying hard” to change policy on bankers’ bonuses. The Cabinet Office is investigating, and documents have been passed to the Metropolitan Police.
Further disclosures from the US Department of Justice show Epstein paid $75,000 into accounts linked to Mandelson and sent £10,000 to Mandelson’s husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, for an osteopathy course. MPs are demanding more transparency from Downing Street about what was known before Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the association a “betrayal on so many levels”, while Starmer warned that further scandals may emerge from the cache of emails. The prime minister has called for faster removal of peers for misconduct, noting that only primary legislation can strip titles, a process not used since 1917.
