Chicago – September 11, 2025
Peter Mandelson has been dismissed as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States following revelations about his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, UK officials confirmed on Thursday.
The dismissal came immediately after newly uncovered emails and handwritten notes revealed that Mandelson, a veteran Labour politician, described Epstein as “my best pal” and actively supported him during Epstein’s 2008 legal troubles.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the decision after the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office determined that the extent and nature of Mandelson’s association with Epstein differed substantially from what was believed at the time of his appointment.
In one disclosed message, Mandelson questioned the validity of Epstein’s conviction and urged him to seek early release—a stance labeled as “new information” by the Foreign Office.
Mandelson’s removal comes amid intense political scrutiny and just days before a planned state visit by US President Donald Trump. The Labour government now faces criticism over its handling of diplomatic appointments and its response time to mounting public and parliamentary pressure surrounding the controversy
