Labour MPs warned that Lord Peter Mandelson could become “a bomb waiting to go off” for Prime Minister Keir Starmer after revelations about messages between the peer and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and questions over what Downing Street knew and when. The warnings follow reports that officials in No. 10 were given details of the correspondence before the prime minister offered public support for Mandelson in the House of Commons.
According to media accounts, a cache of emails and other material showing intimate and supportive exchanges between Mandelson and Epstein was sent to the Foreign Office early on a Tuesday, more than 30 hours before parts were published and roughly 24 hours before Mr. Starmer told parliament he had "full confidence" in Mandelson. Within about a day of that Commons statement, Mandelson was removed from his role as the government's ambassador to the United States. He refused to resign and remains on the government payroll.
Reports said the messages included effusive language in which Mandelson referred to Epstein as his "best pal" and appeared to urge him to apply for early release after Epstein's conviction for sex crimes. A photograph and references to Mandelson appear in material compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell that has been cited in news coverage. Party sources and some MPs expressed alarm at the speed and manner of Mandelson's dismissal, saying Sir Keir did not speak to him directly before announcing the removal.
Labour MPs quoted by the press described Mandelson as feeling "hung out to dry" by the prime minister and warned that, given Mandelson's long-standing role in Sir Keir's inner circle and access to confidential information, he could pose a political threat. One Labour MP was reported as saying Mandelson "must know enough to bring down Keir if he wanted to." Mandelson's allies told reporters that he felt ill-treated and that he had been asked about his association with Epstein during a vetting interview, adding that some messages could not be produced because they were on an old account to which he no longer had access.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed the government in parliament, accusing the prime minister and Labour MPs of misleading the public about what they knew and when. Downing Street has faced criticism over the sequence of events and the handling of Mandelson's appointment and removal.
Mandelson's continued presence on the payroll has prompted questions about a possible taxpayer-funded payout. He served as ambassador to the United States at an annual rate reported to be about £200,000; public officials removed from senior roles can sometimes receive substantial settlements if employment procedures are not properly followed. Legal and employment experts said the government would likely need to show that Mandelson materially misled ministers or officials about his relationship with Epstein to avoid paying compensation. Officials and media reports pointed to employment law concerns after the rapid series of moves.
The swift developments have added to scrutiny of vetting processes for political appointments and the flow of information to ministers. Mandelson has been a prominent figure in Labour politics for decades, serving in multiple cabinet roles and remaining influential in party circles. His reported communications with Epstein, and the timing of disclosure to Whitehall and Downing Street, have raised questions among MPs across the political spectrum about decision-making at the highest levels of government.
The government declined to provide a detailed account of what ministers knew at each stage, citing ongoing internal considerations. Parliamentary sources said inquiries and discussions were continuing within Labour as MPs sought clarity on the sequence of events and on whether further action would be taken. The episode has already become a focal point at Prime Minister’s Questions and is likely to remain politically sensitive as further details emerge and officials consider whether employment and disclosure rules were followed.