Peter Mandelson, the former Labour peer, was seen publicly on July 30 at Hampstead Heath's men's pond, marking a rare outing since his arrest in February. Mandelson, 72, was photographed swimming and engaging in conversation with a pond attendant about annual membership options.
He reportedly booked a one-hour swimming session for £5 but inquired about a concessionary rate of £94 for a yearly subscription, which typically costs £157, due to his age. Mandelson was seen wearing dark goggles and grey swimming shorts.
This appearance follows his arrest earlier in the year on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The investigation was prompted by emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice, which led to allegations that Mandelson forwarded market-sensitive information to financier Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as business secretary from 2008 to 2010. An undated photograph published in January showed Mandelson in his underpants speaking with a woman at Epstein's Paris apartment.
Mandelson, who was previously described as a sacked ambassador to the U.S., has largely remained out of the public eye since these allegations surfaced. When questioned by reporters after his swim about his appointment as ambassador and its potential impact on former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer's political standing, Mandelson declined to comment. He also refused to explain why he accepted a £75,000 severance package after losing his job in September due to undisclosed links to Epstein, and stated he was still under police investigation.
Mandelson departed the pond on his Brompton folding bicycle.