Keir Starmer sacks gay politician Peter Mandelson as US ambassador over Epstein emails

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has sacked US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson, the BBC reports.

Lord Mandelson has served as Starmer’s ambassador to the US since December, just before Donald Trump’s inauguration. He began his career as Labour communications director in 1985 and was elected as an MP in 1992. He subsequently served in the cabinets of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Recent revelations that Lord Mandelson had supported disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein while he was being investigated for sexual offences have led to calls for him to be sacked from his position, including from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor. He died in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide although his lawyers have disputed that, leading to a number of conspiracy theories.

Lord Mandelson was also recently linked to a 50th birthday photo book compiled for the financier by his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now in prison for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a copy of an alleged “birthday album” put together by Maxwell, which was received along with other documents from the deceased billionaire’s estate, on Monday (8 September).

A contribution that appears to be by Mandelson features a picture of the pair together and shows the former minister reclining in a bathrobe, before he describes Epstein as his “best pal”, the Independent reports.

Mandelson is gay, he was outed in 1998 by gay journalist Matthew Parris. Speaking to The Sun’s Harry Cole Saves the West, Lord Mandelson said: “I regret very, very deeply indeed carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done.”

Lord Mandelson went on to say that “perhaps because I am a gay man” he may have been blinded to Epstein’s criminal behaviour.

The British Embassy in Washington issued the following statement: “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 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.

“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.”