Lord Peter Mandelson, a veteran figure in British politics and former senior minister, has resigned from the ruling Labour Party, saying he does not want to cause further embarrassment amid renewed attention on his past connections to the late convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a letter to the party’s general secretary, Mandelson said the recent disclosures linking him to Epstein had “re-emerged this weekend,” and he wanted to step aside to avoid being a distraction. He expressed regret and emphasised that the voices of Epstein’s victims should be heard and respected.
The controversy comes after the release of millions of pages of US court documents, known as the “Epstein files,” detailing Epstein’s wide-ranging network and financial dealings. According to the documents, Epstein allegedly made several payments, totaling around $75,000 (£55,000), to accounts connected to Mandelson in the early 2000s, when he was a Member of Parliament.
Mandelson has denied any recollection of receiving such payments and questioned the accuracy of the records. He also reiterated his apology to the women affected by Epstein’s crimes, acknowledging the profound pain caused and expressing hope for accountability.
This is not Mandelson’s first political controversy. He had previously stepped down from ministerial roles during earlier scandals and was dismissed last year as Britain’s ambassador to the United States by Prime Minister Keir Starmer over previous links to Epstein.
His resignation has sparked debate across the UK, with opposition parties calling for independent investigations and questions being raised about the Labour Party’s decision-making.
