The prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw Lord Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom's ambassador to the United States after the publication of emails that, the Foreign Office said, show the depth of his relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein was “materially different” from what was known at the time of his appointment.
The Foreign Office said the move follows the emergence of messages exchanged in 2008, when Epstein was facing charges for soliciting sex with a minor. "In particular Peter Mandelson's suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information. In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein's crimes he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect," the statement said.
Lord Mandelson — a former European commissioner and senior cabinet minister — acknowledged the publication of the messages on Wednesday and said he had "foolishly" relied on assurances of Epstein's innocence, "which I regret to this day." The prime minister had faced mounting pressure to dismiss him after the exchanges were made public.
The published emails show private correspondence between Mandelson and Epstein dating back to 2008, the year Epstein was convicted in Florida on charges related to soliciting a minor for prostitution. The Foreign Office said the newly revealed content altered the assessment of the relationship when Mandelson was appointed to the Washington role.
Mandelson's appointment had previously attracted scrutiny because of his past contacts with Epstein. The latest disclosures prompted immediate political reaction and forced the government to act, the Foreign Office said, adding that the decision took account of the need to be mindful of victims of Epstein's crimes.
Officials did not set out a timeline for naming a successor or for any further internal review. The withdrawal takes effect immediately, the statement said. Downing Street declined to comment beyond confirming the prime minister's decision and the Foreign Office statement.
Epstein, a U.S. financier whose relationships with politicians and public figures drew sustained scrutiny, was sentenced in 2008 in Florida on state charges related to the procurement of an underage girl for prostitution. He later faced federal allegations of sex trafficking; he died in a U.S. jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on those charges.
The removal of Lord Mandelson marks a rare and rapid diplomatic reversal prompted by newly surfaced private communications, underscoring ongoing sensitivities around public officials' past associations with Epstein. Further developments are likely as political figures, officials and media outlets continue to examine the content and context of the published messages.