Relationship of Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein

The relationship between British politician Peter Mandelson and the American child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein spanned from at least 2002 to 2011, continuing after Epstein's first conviction in 2008. Their friendship had been public knowledge, but 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. The backlash created a political scandal in the United Kingdom with significant ramifications for the governing British Labour Party and prime minister Keir Starmer, who soon dismissed Mandelson as the British Ambassador to the United States and oversaw his resignation from the Labour Party and from the House of Lords.

The Epstein files revealed the depth and nature of their relationship. Mandelson called Epstein his "best pal" in a 2003 birthday book message; had reportedly expressed support for Epstein following his 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a minor; allegedly told Epstein he "thought the world of him" and advised him to "fight for early release" from his 18-month sentence; reportedly had his travel paid for by Epstein in 2003; received payments from Epstein alongside his husband; and alleged that, in 2009–10, he passed on confidential government information to Epstein amid the 2008 financial crisis while Mandelson was serving as business secretary in the Gordon Brown ministry.

Starmer and the then-foreign secretaryDavid Lammy announced Mandelson's appointment as British Ambassador to the United States in December 2024 to strengthen the government's relationship with incoming US presidentDonald Trump. In September 2025, amid the first releases of the Epstein files, the British government claimed that newly published emails provided "materially different" information about the extent of the Mandelson–Epstein relationship, and dismissed Mandelson as ambassador. In February 2026, Starmer told the House of Commons that Mandelson "betrayed our country, our Parliament, and my party. He lied repeatedly" and that he regretted appointing him.

The scandal brought down several other government figures, including Starmer's Chief of StaffMorgan McSweeney who took responsibility for Mandelson's appointment, and Olly Robbins, a top civil servant in the Foreign Office. Several people have called on Starmer to resign as a result of the scandal, including Leader of the OppositionKemi Badenoch who called the prime minister's position "untenable", Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats leader), Nigel Farage (Reform UK leader), Zack Polanski (Green Party leader), Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru parliamentary leader), and John Swinney (First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader).

Mandelson was 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. 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. On 23 February 2026, Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and then released on bail pending further investigation.

In April 2026, it was reported that Mandelson had been denied security clearance by security vetting back in January 2025. A government spokesperson said "the decision to grant developed vetting to Peter Mandelson against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting was taken by officials in the FCDO". Starmer said he was not told that he had failed security vetting, and denied claims that he had misled the House of Commons. Foreign SecretaryYvette Cooper dismissed the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office Olly Robbins, who said he had been put under "serious pressure" to push through the appointment at a summons to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.