Peter Mandelson has resigned his membership of the Labour Party after fresh media reports connected him to Jeffrey Epstein. He denied allegations that Epstein made financial payments to him and said he would investigate, but stepped down to avoid causing "further embarrassment" to Labour. Mandelson was removed last year as Britain’s ambassador to the U.S. after documents showed he referred to Epstein as "my best pal" and is currently on leave from the House of Lords.
Peter Mandelson Quits Labour After Fresh Epstein-Related Reports
Peter Mandelson, former British ambassador to the U.S., attends an interview pre-recorded for the BBC's 'Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg' TV programme, in London, Britain, January 10, 2026. Jeff Overs/BBC/Handout via REUTERS
Former British minister Peter Mandelson has resigned his membership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party after new media reports linked him to disgraced U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, media outlets reported on Sunday.
Mandelson, who was dismissed by Starmer last year as Britain’s ambassador to the United States following earlier disclosures about his connections to Epstein, said he did not want to bring "further embarrassment" on the party.
"I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this," Mandelson wrote in a letter to the Labour Party reported by the BBC and other outlets. He said he rejects claims that Epstein made financial payments to him and intends to investigate the matter.
The reports said allegations about alleged financial payments arose from files released by the U.S. Justice Department and subsequently reported in British media. The letter, according to news organisations, added: "While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party." Reuters was not immediately able to obtain the letter.
Career And Earlier Controversies
Mandelson was a central architect of Labour's electoral success under Tony Blair in the 1990s and has been an influential figure in the party for decades. He attracted renewed scrutiny last year after U.S. lawmakers published documents that included a letter in which he reportedly described Epstein as "my best pal," a revelation that contributed to his removal as Britain’s envoy in Washington.
Domestically, Mandelson's career has seen earlier high-profile resignations. In 1998 he stepped down as trade minister amid controversy over a loan from a colleague to help buy a house, raising questions about conflicts of interest. A later cabinet return ended in 2001 when he resigned over an alleged passport scandal involving an Indian businessman; he was subsequently cleared of acting improperly in that matter.
A former European Union trade commissioner, Mandelson is currently on a leave of absence from the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the UK Parliament.
Broader Fallout
Separately, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that Britain’s former Prince Andrew should give evidence to a U.S. congressional committee after fresh revelations about his links to Epstein.
(Reporting by William Schomberg; Editing by Chris Reese)
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