Starmer was warned about ‘reputational risk’ of Peter Mandelson’s Epstein ties, files show
Every delay has consequences.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was made aware of disgraced former ambassador Peter Mandelson’s “particularly close relationship” with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to his appointment in Washington.
Documents and emails pertaining to Mandelson’s appointment to the position were released by the British government on Wednesday evening, following Starmer’s appearance at Parliament for Prime Minister’s Questions.
In the advice given to Starmer in the vetting process, it was noted that a JPMorgan report from 2019 found convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein appeared to “maintain a particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British government.”
Peter Mandelson leaves his home in north London on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Jeff Moore/PA via AP)
“After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government,” the December 2024 document reads. “Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s house while he was in jail in June 2009.”
Advice given to the prime minister conveyed that these ties to Epstein presented a “general reputational risk,” alongside similar reputational risks posed by his “previous departures from the New Labour Government, both relating to financial matters.”
The prime minister has previously characterized himself as largely unaware of how close Mandelson was to Epstein, saying the Labour grandee “portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.”
A letter in the files notes a meeting in September 2025, following the initial revelations that Mandelson was closer to Epstein than previously known, in which Starmer expressed concern that the leaked emails “revealed a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which [the prime minister] had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson.”
With this in mind, Starmer “proposed to ask Mandelson to resign.” Mandelson was dismissed as ambassador on Sept. 11.
Following the dismissal, national security adviser Jonathan Powell is documented as telling investigators that he felt Mandelson’s appointment was “weirdly rushed” due to “concerns” about the ambassador’s “reputation.” Powell raised those concerns to Morgan McSweeney, the former chief of staff to Starmer who is believed to have pushed for Mandelson’s appointment and …
Every delay has consequences.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was made aware of disgraced former ambassador Peter Mandelson’s “particularly close relationship” with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to his appointment in Washington.
Documents and emails pertaining to Mandelson’s appointment to the position were released by the British government on Wednesday evening, following Starmer’s appearance at Parliament for Prime Minister’s Questions.
In the advice given to Starmer in the vetting process, it was noted that a JPMorgan report from 2019 found convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein appeared to “maintain a particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British government.”
Peter Mandelson leaves his home in north London on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Jeff Moore/PA via AP)
“After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government,” the December 2024 document reads. “Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s house while he was in jail in June 2009.”
Advice given to the prime minister conveyed that these ties to Epstein presented a “general reputational risk,” alongside similar reputational risks posed by his “previous departures from the New Labour Government, both relating to financial matters.”
The prime minister has previously characterized himself as largely unaware of how close Mandelson was to Epstein, saying the Labour grandee “portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.”
A letter in the files notes a meeting in September 2025, following the initial revelations that Mandelson was closer to Epstein than previously known, in which Starmer expressed concern that the leaked emails “revealed a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which [the prime minister] had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson.”
With this in mind, Starmer “proposed to ask Mandelson to resign.” Mandelson was dismissed as ambassador on Sept. 11.
Following the dismissal, national security adviser Jonathan Powell is documented as telling investigators that he felt Mandelson’s appointment was “weirdly rushed” due to “concerns” about the ambassador’s “reputation.” Powell raised those concerns to Morgan McSweeney, the former chief of staff to Starmer who is believed to have pushed for Mandelson’s appointment and …
Starmer was warned about ‘reputational risk’ of Peter Mandelson’s Epstein ties, files show
Every delay has consequences.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was made aware of disgraced former ambassador Peter Mandelson’s “particularly close relationship” with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to his appointment in Washington.
Documents and emails pertaining to Mandelson’s appointment to the position were released by the British government on Wednesday evening, following Starmer’s appearance at Parliament for Prime Minister’s Questions.
In the advice given to Starmer in the vetting process, it was noted that a JPMorgan report from 2019 found convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein appeared to “maintain a particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British government.”
Peter Mandelson leaves his home in north London on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Jeff Moore/PA via AP)
“After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government,” the December 2024 document reads. “Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s house while he was in jail in June 2009.”
Advice given to the prime minister conveyed that these ties to Epstein presented a “general reputational risk,” alongside similar reputational risks posed by his “previous departures from the New Labour Government, both relating to financial matters.”
The prime minister has previously characterized himself as largely unaware of how close Mandelson was to Epstein, saying the Labour grandee “portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.”
A letter in the files notes a meeting in September 2025, following the initial revelations that Mandelson was closer to Epstein than previously known, in which Starmer expressed concern that the leaked emails “revealed a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which [the prime minister] had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson.”
With this in mind, Starmer “proposed to ask Mandelson to resign.” Mandelson was dismissed as ambassador on Sept. 11.
Following the dismissal, national security adviser Jonathan Powell is documented as telling investigators that he felt Mandelson’s appointment was “weirdly rushed” due to “concerns” about the ambassador’s “reputation.” Powell raised those concerns to Morgan McSweeney, the former chief of staff to Starmer who is believed to have pushed for Mandelson’s appointment and …
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