Lord Mandelson resigns from Labour Party over renewed Epstein links

Lord Mandelson has resigned from the Labour Party to avoid further embarrassment following renewed scrutiny of his past links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. His decision comes after newly released US justice documents alleged Epstein made payments to him in the early 2000s, claims Mandelson says he does not recall and believes are false. He has apologised again to Epstein’s victims and said he is stepping aside while the allegations are investigated, a move that has drawn mixed political reactions.

Lord Mandelson has said he has resigned his membership of the Labour Party, explaining that he does not want to “cause further embarrassment” to the party amid renewed attention on his past links to the late, convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. His decision follows the publication of newly released files by the United States Department of Justice on Friday, in which his name appeared.
The former cabinet minister had already lost his position as the UK’s ambassador to the United States last year because of his historical association with Epstein. The latest documents have intensified scrutiny, as they suggest Epstein made payments totalling $75,000 (£55,000) to Lord Mandelson through three separate transactions of $25,000 each in 2003 and 2004.
In a letter written to Labour’s general secretary, Lord Mandelson said he had once again been drawn into what he described as the “understandable furore” surrounding Epstein. He said he felt regretful and sorry about the situation, adding that the allegations of financial payments were claims he believed to be false. He stated that he had no record or recollection of receiving such payments and said the matter required investigation on his part.
Lord Mandelson explained that, while he was looking into the allegations, he did not want his continued association with the controversy to further damage the Labour Party. For that reason, he said he had decided to step down from his membership. In the same letter, he repeated his apology to the women and girls affected by Epstein’s crimes, saying their voices should have been heard much earlier. He also stressed that he had dedicated his life to the values and success of the Labour Party and believed his resignation was in the party’s best interests.
Earlier on Sunday, Lord Mandelson said he could not confirm whether the newly released documents were authentic. However, he reiterated his regret for ever having known Epstein and for continuing any association with him after his conviction. He offered an unequivocal apology to the women and girls who suffered as a result of Epstein’s actions.
Reaction to the development has been swift across the political spectrum. Labour MP Gordon McKee told BBC Radio 4 that Epstein’s victims would be “rightly outraged” by the recent revelations. He added that Lord Mandelson had taken the “right thing” by resigning from the Labour Party in light of the controversy.
The Conservative Party was more critical of the government’s handling of the situation. A party spokesperson accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of allowing Lord Mandelson to resign voluntarily instead of removing him from the party. Earlier the same day, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had called on the prime minister to suspend Lord Mandelson’s Labour Party membership and to order a formal investigation into his links with Epstein.
Meanwhile, Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the government had not been aware of the alleged financial connections between Lord Mandelson and Epstein. He made the comments after being questioned on the issue by broadcaster Laura Kuenssberg.