British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday removed Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States after the publication this week of emails that the government says show a closer relationship between Mandelson and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than was known at the time of his appointment.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told members of Parliament that the decision followed the release of the messages. "In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador," the Foreign Office said in a statement. "The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment."
Mandelson had served as the U.K. ambassador to Washington after being appointed earlier this year. He attended a trade announcement in the Oval Office on May 8, 2025, illustrating the diplomatic role he had played since taking up the posting.
The Foreign Office statement did not publish the emails in question or provide further details about their contents in the Commons. Officials declined at the time to release additional material beyond the formal notification that the ambassadorial appointment was being ended.
Jeffrey Epstein, a U.S. financier who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, has continued to cast a long shadow over public figures whose past contact with him has surfaced. Documents and reporting in recent years have prompted renewed scrutiny of relationships between Epstein and prominent politicians, business leaders and others in public life.
The government’s move to withdraw Mandelson comes amid heightened sensitivity in Westminster about vetting and the reputational risks of diplomatic postings. Prime Minister Starmer’s office has been under pressure to ensure that senior appointments reflect standards expected by government and the public; officials said the new information altered the picture that was available during Mandelson’s vetting and selection.
No timeline for Mandelson’s formal departure from Washington was provided by the Foreign Office, and the statement did not say whether he would return to the United Kingdom immediately or remain in post while a successor is identified and accredited by the U.S. government.
The Commons statement did not include comment from Mandelson. It also did not say whether law enforcement agencies had been alerted in connection with the emails.
The removal of an ambassador is an uncommon and politically sensitive step. The government’s decision, announced in Parliament, will require the foreign secretary to notify U.S. authorities and arrange for an orderly transition at the embassy in Washington. The U.K. maintains that diplomatic relations with the United States remain a priority even as it moves to address questions raised by the newly published communications.
Further parliamentary debate and potential inquiries are likely as lawmakers seek more information about the emails and the vetting process that led to Mandelson’s posting. The Foreign Office said the prime minister acted after assessing the additional information now in the public domain.
As the government works to manage the diplomatic fallout, officials will also be looking to reassure partners in Washington and elsewhere that the U.K. diplomatic service retains the judgment and integrity expected of its senior representatives.