Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared that Lord Peter Mandelson should no longer be a member of the House of Lords following fresh disclosures about the peer's connections to the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. However, Downing Street has clarified that the Prime Minister does not possess the legal authority to revoke Mandelson's peerage unilaterally.
Downing Street's Stance on the Peerage
The Prime Minister's official spokesman stated unequivocally: "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 does not have the power to remove it." This admission highlights a significant gap in the disciplinary procedures governing the upper chamber, where removing a peerage currently requires new legislation—a step not taken for over a century.
Urgent Review by Top Civil Servant
In response to the escalating scandal, Sir Keir Starmer has tasked the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, with conducting an urgent review of all available information regarding Lord Mandelson's contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a Government minister. This investigation aims to scrutinise the extent and nature of their interactions while Mandelson served in high office.
Revelations from Released Documents
Newly released emails from the US Department of Justice have shed disturbing light on the relationship. In a 2009 exchange, Lord Mandelson, then serving as Business Secretary, appeared to inform Epstein that he would lobby ministers concerning a proposed tax on bankers' bonuses. The correspondence also revealed that Epstein was privy to internal discussions within the UK Government in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.
Further financial records from 2003 and 2004 indicate that Mandelson received payments totalling 75,000 US dollars (approximately £54,735) from Epstein. Additionally, it is reported that Epstein funded an osteopathy course for Lord Mandelson's husband, adding another layer to the financial entanglements between the two.
Labour Party's Disciplinary Action
Lord Mandelson resigned his membership of the Labour Party late on Sunday night, with the party confirming that he was facing disciplinary proceedings. This move came as pressure mounted over his associations and the potential breach of ministerial codes of conduct.
Calls for Modernisation of Lords Procedures
Prime Minister Starmer has urged the House of Lords to collaborate with the Government to modernise its disciplinary frameworks, making it easier to expel peers who bring the institution into disrepute. Under existing rules, stripping a peerage necessitates parliamentary legislation—a process last invoked more than 100 years ago to address nobles who sided with Germany during the First World War.
The current situation underscores ongoing debates about accountability and reform within the UK's political structures, particularly in the wake of scandals that test public trust. As the review proceeds, the focus remains on ensuring robust mechanisms are in place to uphold integrity in public life.
