Former Labour peer Peter Mandelson, 72, was seen taking a swim in the men's pond at Hampstead Heath on Thursday, July 30. This public outing marks a rare appearance since his arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
While swimming to cool off in the heat, Mandelson was observed in conversation with an attendant about annual membership options for the pond. He reportedly discussed a concession rate of £94 due to his age, compared to the standard yearly subscription of £157. Mandelson was seen wearing dark goggles and grey shorts.
The former ambassador to the U.S. has largely stayed out of the public eye since his arrest. The investigation followed the release of emails by the U.S. Department of Justice, which brought forward allegations that Mandelson had shared market-sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein between 2008 and 2010, when he served as business secretary in Gordon Brown's government. An undated photograph published in January by The Mail on Sunday also showed Mandelson in his underpants speaking with a woman at Epstein's Paris apartment.
When asked by reporters following his swim about his ambassadorship and its potential connection to the political standing of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, Mandelson declined to comment. He also refused to explain his £75,000 severance package received after losing his position last September, reportedly due to undisclosed links to Epstein. He then departed on his bicycle. Mandelson remains under police investigation.
