Senior and controversial Labour figure Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned from the Labour Party after fresh details emerged about his past links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to The Washington Post, newly released documents by the US Department of Justice contain further references to Mandelson’s association with Epstein, prompting renewed political and public scrutiny.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Mandelson said he was stepping aside to avoid causing further embarrassment to the Labour Party.
He said recent disclosures had drawn him back into what he described as “understandable public anger” surrounding Epstein.
Mandelson, one of the most influential figures in British politics over the past three decades, was removed from his post as Britain’s ambassador to the United States by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in September 2025, after initial reports surfaced about his links to Epstein.
The latest US documents allege that Epstein provided Mandelson with financial benefits, including payments reportedly totalling $25,000, and that a confidential government document may also have been shared with Epstein. Mandelson has strongly denied the allegations, stating that he has no recollection of receiving any money and insisting the claims are unfounded and must be fully investigated.
In a letter to Labour’s general secretary, Mandelson said he regretted becoming further entangled in the Epstein affair and apologised for the controversy caused.
Reacting to the developments, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Mandelson should also be removed from the House of Lords and called for a formal investigation into his links with Epstein. He added that Mandelson should relinquish his life peerage. Opposition parties have echoed calls for a thorough and transparent inquiry, while police are reviewing potential misconduct.
Often dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” of British politics, Mandelson was a key architect of Tony Blair’s New Labour project in the 1990s. However, his association with Epstein has repeatedly drawn criticism over the years.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a US prison in 2019. The release of the latest documents has triggered renewed political turmoil in Britain, with renewed scrutiny also falling on other prominent figures, including members of the royal family.
In his statement, Mandelson also apologised to the women and girls abused by Epstein, saying their voices were heard far too late.
