Prime Minister Keir Starmer has demanded that Peter Mandelson resign from the House of Lords and called for modernisation of disciplinary procedures to allow peers to be stripped of their titles. The demand follows the release of US Department of Justice documents showing Mandelson, as business secretary in 2009, shared confidential UK tax plans with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The documents, released on Friday, reveal Mandelson forwarded a government document outlining £20bn in asset sales and Labour's tax policy plans to Epstein. In a separate email exchange, Epstein asked Mandelson to change government policy on bankers' bonuses, to which Mandelson replied: 'Trying hard to amend as I explained to Jes last night. Treasury digging in but I am on case.'
Downing Street said Mandelson should testify before the US Congress inquiry into the Epstein files if called. Mandelson was sacked as UK ambassador to Washington last year over his relationship with Epstein and resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday night, saying he wanted to avoid causing 'further embarrassment'.
Starmer's official spokesperson stated: 'The prime minister believes that Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title.' However, the prime minister lacks the power to remove a peerage, which would require primary legislation. Government insiders hope Mandelson will resign voluntarily, but No 10 has received no assurances.
The Lords conduct committee may be asked to recommend changes to make peerage removal easier. Labour promised in its manifesto to address rogue peers but has not yet acted. The last removal of a peerage occurred during the First World War, applied to a group of peers.
