More embarrassing Epstein exchanges to come, says Mandelson
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More embarrassing Epstein exchanges to come, says Mandelson
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Figure caption:
Watch: Lord Mandelson says he regrets falling for Epstein's lies
By Kate Whannel
Political reporter
and Nick Eardley
Political correspondent
Published 10 September 2025
The UK's ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, has said he believes further "embarrassing" correspondence between himself and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein will be published.
On Tuesday, US lawmakers released a number of documents which included a letter from Lord Mandelson in which he called Epstein his "best pal".
Speaking to the YouTube channel Harry Cole Saves the West, Mandelson said it was "very embarrassing" to see the words published but added they were written "over 20 years ago".
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Lord Mandelson was "mired in scandal", raising questions over Sir Keir Starmer's "bad judgement".
During Prime Minister's Questions, Badenoch asked Sir Keir whether he was aware of Lord Mandelson's "intimate relationship" with Epstein when the prime minister appointed him US ambassador last year.
She also called for vetting documents ahead of his appointment to be made public, and for the prime minister to force Lord Mandelson to disclose all his correspondence with Epstein.
"With this government it is more strikes, more scandal, more chaos," she added. "Isn't the link that between all of this his bad decisions, his bad judgement, and his total weakness?"
The prime minister did not detail what exactly he knew about Lord Mandelson's links to Epstein prior to appointing him, but said he retained confidence in him and he was "playing an important role" in UK-US relations.
He added that the ambassador had "repeatedly expressed his deep regret" for his association with Epstein, and had been "right to do so".
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey pressed Sir Keir on whether he had asked Lord Mandelson "what other compromising material the Trump administration might have on him, as he leads Britain's negotiations with the White House".
In reply, the prime minister said that "full due process" was undertaken prior to Lord Mandelson's appointment.
Lord Mandelson is highly rated in Downing Street because of his ability to work with the Trump administration. But his past relationship is awkward for the prime minister. A key question will be over Lord Mandelson's judgement – remaining friends with Epstein after it first emerged he had been investigated.
The difficult questions for the government are likely to continue if, as Lord Mandelson suggests, there are more details to come. The timing of the revelations about his US ambassador also poses a political headache for Sir Keir, ahead of US President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK next week.