LONDON, Feb 1 - Peter Mandelson has notified the Labour Party that he is stepping down from membership after media reports over the weekend renewed attention to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson, who was removed from his post as Britain’s ambassador to the United States last year after earlier disclosures about his relationship with Epstein, said he would not remain a member of the party while related issues are being examined.
In a letter to the Labour Party reported by the BBC and other news organisations, Mandelson wrote: "I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this." The same letter, according to those reports, added that allegations about financial payments to him by Epstein were false and that he intended to investigate those claims.
"While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party," the letter continued, as cited in media coverage.
Background and recent developments
Mandelson played a central role in Labour’s electoral strategy during the period when Tony Blair was prime minister in the 1990s. His return to public office culminated in his appointment as Britain’s envoy to Washington, from which he was dismissed last year after U.S. lawmakers released documents that included a letter in which he described Epstein as "my best pal." Those disclosures triggered political fallout and raised fresh scrutiny of his past associations.
The latest reporting that prompted his resignation as a party member was based on files released by the U.S. Justice Department and published in British media. Mandelson has denied the accuracy of reports alleging financial payments from Epstein and said he would look into them.
Earlier controversies
Mandelson’s political career has included earlier exits from government posts. In 1998 he resigned as trade minister amid questions about a loan he received from a fellow minister to purchase a house, a matter that raised conflict-of-interest concerns. He later returned to the cabinet, but resigned again in 2001 over allegations tied to a passport issue involving an Indian billionaire; he was subsequently cleared of acting improperly in that case.
He has also served as a European Union trade commissioner and remains on leave of absence as a member of the House of Lords.
Wider political ripple
Separately, Labour leader Keir Starmer said on Saturday that Britain’s former Prince Andrew should give evidence to a U.S. congressional committee, a call that followed fresh revelations about the prince’s links to Epstein. The two developments have kept attention on public figures whose past connections to Epstein are under renewed scrutiny.
For now, Mandelson’s step away from the Labour Party is framed by his stated wish to avoid causing additional embarrassment to the party while questions about his reported association with Epstein are investigated.