Starmer Fires Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to U.S. After Epstein-Related Email Revelations

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed Peter Mandelson from his role as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States following new revelations about his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

The termination comes amid mounting political fallout over undisclosed emails that contradicted the understanding of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein at the time of his appointment.

Among the recently surfaced communications was a 2003 handwritten note in a “birthday book” compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday, in which Mandelson referred to Epstein as his “best pal.” This prompted widespread criticism, particularly as Epstein's reputation was already tarnished.

Further troubling evidence included email messages from 2008, in which Mandelson urged Epstein to “fight for early release” and suggested that Epstein's original conviction for soliciting and procuring a minor was wrongful and should be challenged.

Until these disclosures, Starmer had publicly stated that Mandelson had undergone a rigorous vetting process before his appointment in early 2025 and maintained "full confidence" in him. However, Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty acknowledged in Parliament that these emails revealed a relationship whose “depth and extent” was materially deeper than had been previously known.

Mandelson issued a statement expressing deep regret over his past association with Epstein and acknowledged that the relationship continued “for far longer than I should have done.” Despite this, the barrage of new information left the government little choice but to withdraw the ambassador.

Political and public reactions were sharp. Opponents and some Labour figures criticized both Mandelson’s judgment and Starmer’s decision to appoint him in the first place, suggesting due diligence had fallen short.

The controversy also arrives at a sensitive moment as the government prepares for a forthcoming state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, who himself has faced scrutiny over connections to Epstein.
Peter Mandelson’s diplomatic tenure lasted from February 10, 2025, until his dismissal on September 11, 2025, making it one of the shortest such appointments in recent UK history.

Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, The Washington Post