Lord Peter Mandelson has been withdrawn as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States after media reports published emails that, the Foreign Office said, show the depth of his relationship with convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein was “materially different” from what had been known at the time of his appointment.
The decision, announced by Downing Street after the emails were reported by the Daily Mail on Thursday, follows messages in which Mr. Mandelson is said to have offered Epstein support while the financier faced criminal proceedings. The Foreign Office statement said the content of those communications raised concerns about the suitability of Mr. Mandelson to serve as the UK’s representative in Washington.
According to the reporting, one email quoted Mr. Mandelson telling Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before Epstein began an 18‑month jail sentence. Another message published by the paper said Mr. Mandelson wrote “I think the world of you” the day before Epstein started a sentence in June 2008 after being convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who appointed the Labour grandee as envoy, had defended the selection prior to the publication of the emails, saying Mr. Mandelson had undergone proper vetting and had been effective in building relationships in Washington. Government sources said the new material changed the assessment of whether Mr. Mandelson should represent the UK in the United States.
The emergence of the emails prompted renewed attention from parliamentarians. Members of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee sought to compel Mr. Mandelson to give evidence about his dealings with Epstein, two committee sources told reporters. Because Mr. Mandelson is a member of the House of Lords, however, the committee has no power to summons him, and Commons select committees generally lack the authority to compel testimony from those based overseas.
Mr. Epstein, a financier who cultivated relationships with prominent political and business figures, was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor and received an 18‑month sentence in that case. He later faced further allegations of sex trafficking and abuse; those cases and his death in 2019 prompted multiple civil suits and investigations in the United States.
Downing Street and the Foreign Office declined to provide additional comment beyond the statement that the newly reported emails had altered the view of Mr. Mandelson’s suitability for the post. Mr. Mandelson did not immediately respond to requests for comment through representatives.
The Daily Mail also published a photograph said to show Mr. Mandelson and Mr. Epstein together in around 2002. The image and emails have intensified scrutiny of political figures who had personal or social connections with Epstein before and after his 2008 conviction.
The episode raises questions about the vetting process for senior diplomatic appointments and the extent to which previously undisclosed or newly surfaced information should affect such selections. It also highlights limits on parliamentary oversight when potential witnesses are peers or reside abroad.
There was no immediate suggestion from officials that a criminal investigation into Mr. Mandelson’s conduct would follow. The Foreign Office said its priority was to ensure the UK’s representation in Washington reflected public confidence and the integrity of its diplomatic appointments.
Opposition politicians and some Conservative lawmakers called for fuller explanation from the government about what was known during the appointment process and why the material surfaced only after Mr. Mandelson’s selection. The Foreign Affairs Select Committee indicated it would continue to seek evidence and answers within the powers available to it.
The government has not named a replacement for the ambassadorial post. Officials said decisions on the next steps would be taken in the coming days as they assess the implications of the reported emails and consider any further action required by ministers or parliamentary committees.