Former UK Envoy Quits Labour as Epstein Files Trigger Fresh Storm

A fresh wave of revelations from newly released U.S. documents has pushed former British ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson to resign from the Labour Party, a move he says is intended to spare the party “further embarrassment.”

Documents Revive Questions Over Epstein Links
Mandelson, 72, was removed from his ambassadorial post last year after scrutiny intensified over his past association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Newly disclosed U.S. Justice Department records reported by British media over the weekend suggest Epstein transferred a total of $75,000 to accounts linked to Mandelson between 2003 and 2004.

In a letter to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley, Mandelson said he had no recollection of the alleged payments and insisted the claims “need investigating by me.” He added that stepping away from Labour membership was necessary to avoid further damaging the party, expressing that he felt “regretful and sorry.”

Photographs and Additional Transfers Surface
The documents also include undated photographs showing Mandelson in a T‑shirt and underwear beside a woman whose face has been redacted. Speaking to the BBC, he said he could not identify the woman, the location, or the circumstances.

Another file suggests Epstein sent £10,000 in 2009 to Mandelson’s partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, during a period when Mandelson was serving as a government minister.

Political Fallout Widens
Mandelson was appointed ambassador by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in late 2024 but was dismissed in September as questions over his Epstein ties mounted. He previously apologized in January for maintaining a friendship with Epstein, after initially resisting calls to do so.

The controversy extends beyond Mandelson. Former prince Andrew who lost his royal titles last year over his own Epstein links was also named in the latest batch of documents. On Sunday, a second woman alleged that Epstein sent her to the UK in 2010 for a sexual encounter with Andrew, her lawyer told the BBC.