Relationship of Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein

The relationship of the British politician Peter Mandelson with the American child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has resulted in an ongoing political scandal in the United Kingdom with significant ramifications for the governing British Labour Party and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Their friendship spanned at least from 2002 to 2011, continuing after Epstein's first conviction in 2008. While their friendship had been public knowledge for some time, a fresh wave of scrutiny and public outrage erupted in September 2025 following the release of US court documents and a cache of private emails between the two men by the US House Oversight Committee, which ultimately led to Mandelson's dismissal as the British Ambassador to the United States and his resignation from the Labour Party and from the House of Lords.

The released documents revealed the depth and nature of their relationship, particularly after Epstein's 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Among the most damaging early revelations were a 2003 birthday book message where Mandelson called Epstein his "best pal," and emails from 2008 where he expressed support for Epstein, told him he "thought the world of him," and advised him to "fight for early release" from his 18-month sentence. It also emerged that Epstein had paid for Mandelson's travel in 2003 and that Mandelson had reportedly sought Epstein's help with a banking deal while serving as a cabinet minister in 2010. In February 2026 there were further reports that Mandelson and his husband had received payments from Epstein, and that in 2009 and 2010 Mandelson allegedly passed government information to Epstein amid the 2008 financial crisis, while Mandelson was business secretary in the Gordon Brown ministry. Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and from the House of Lords, and the Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation into alleged misconduct in a public office. There were also reports that Mandelson and Epstein exchanged emails the day Epstein was released from jail for his 2008 convictions for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Both the 2025 and 2026 revelations have placed considerable pressure on Starmer, who had appointed Mandelson as ambassador to the United States in late 2024 and initially expressed full confidence in him. Starmer's government claimed that the newly published emails provided "materially different" information about the extent of the relationship, specifically Mandelson's suggestion that Epstein's conviction was wrongful. After Mandelson refused to resign, Starmer dismissed him, stating he found the emails "reprehensible" and his responses to official questions unsatisfactory, and later stating amid the subsequent revelations that Mandelson betrayed the country, Parliament, and the Labour Party. Mandelson has been stripped of honorary awards and titles, and for his part expressed deep regret for the association, claiming he was "taken in" by a "charismatic criminal liar" and profoundly sympathised with Epstein's victims. Following increasing internal pressures, the scandal also resulted in the resignation of Morgan McSweeney, who took responsibility for Mandelson's appointment, as Starmer's chief of staff. On February 23, 2026, Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and then released on bail pending further investigation