Foreign Office Confirms ‘Prince of Darkness’ Failed to Disclose Depth of Paedophile Friendship
Nigel Farage has claimed the Prime Minister has become “ever more distanced” from the Labour Party after Lord Peter Mandelson was dramatically sacked as Britain’s Ambassador to the United States over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Reform UK leader declared that “The sacking of Lord Mandelson had become inevitable” as the veteran Labour politician’s seven-month tenure as ambassador came to an abrupt end on Thursday morning.
“The Prime Minister is becoming ever more distanced from his parliamentary party,” Mr Farage added, seizing on the crisis engulfing Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
Former Ambassador to the UN James Roscoe has been appointed as the interim Ambassador to the United States, Downing Street confirmed, as the government scrambled to contain the damage ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned state visit next week.
‘Materially Different’ Relationship
The sacking came as Sir Keir Starmer faced mounting pressure from opposing parties alongside Labour MPs to act on Lord Mandelson’s position following explosive revelations about his relationship with the convicted paedophile.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs in the House of Commons on Thursday morning that Lord Mandelson had not disclosed the “extent and depth” of his friendship with Epstein when he was appointed to the prestigious Washington posting.
“In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador,” Mr Doughty announced to a packed Commons chamber.
The minister revealed that emails showed “the depth and extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.”
‘Fight for Early Release’
The dramatic dismissal followed the publication of damaging emails from June 2008, which Lord Mandelson’s spokesman did not dispute, showing the ambassador had written to Epstein whilst the financier faced sentencing for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
In the correspondence published by The Sun, Mandelson told Epstein he should “fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can” ahead of his 18-month prison sentence.
“I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened,” Mandelson had written to the convicted sex offender.
Mr Doughty delivered the killer blow, stating: “And in particular, the suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.”
The Foreign Office minister confirmed: “Lord Mandelson has resigned, that decision has been taken, and that is a very, very clear answer to his questions.”
‘Best Pal’ Revelation
The crisis had intensified earlier this week when Democrats on the US House Oversight Committee released a 50th birthday album compiled in 2003 for Epstein. In a handwritten note contained within the album, Mandelson had described Epstein as “my best pal.”
The revelation proved particularly damaging given that Mandelson had taken up his Washington posting in February this year, following what the government described as an “extensive vetting process.”
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch had repeatedly challenged Starmer over the appointment during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, asking six times about Mandelson’s links to the “notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Career Diplomat Takes Over
James Roscoe, who has been serving as Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Washington since July 2022, will serve as interim ambassador and oversee President Trump’s state visit next week.
Roscoe is a career diplomat who previously served as UK Ambassador to the UN General Assembly from 2019 and was Communications Secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth II from 2013 to 2016.
The appointment of a career civil servant marks a stark contrast to Mandelson, whose political appointment had been controversial from the outset. It was rare for a politician rather than a career diplomat to be given such a key ambassadorial post.
‘Prince of Darkness’ Falls
Lord Mandelson, 71, dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” for his Machiavellian political skills, has now been forced to resign from government positions three times in his career.
He previously resigned as Trade Secretary in 1998 over an undeclared loan scandal and as Northern Ireland Secretary in 2001 following accusations about a passport application, though he was later cleared of wrongdoing in the latter case.
Mandelson had been considered a major asset in negotiations with the Trump administration due to his trade expertise, having served as EU Trade Commissioner from 2004 to 2008. He had played a critical role in negotiating a US-UK trade deal signed in May.
Labour MPs Break Ranks
The pressure on Starmer intensified as Labour MPs began breaking ranks to call for Mandelson’s dismissal. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Kim Johnson and an anonymous Labour MP all said the ambassador should be fired over his Epstein links.
Labour MP Mike Tapp told GB News he was “uncomfortable” and “disturbed” by the revelations, reflecting growing unease on the government benches.
The scandal represents another blow to Starmer’s authority, coming just days after his deputy Angela Rayner resigned over a property tax scandal. Critics are increasingly questioning the Prime Minister’s judgement, particularly given that Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein had been public knowledge for years.
Trump Visit Looms
The timing of the crisis could hardly be worse for Starmer, with President Trump scheduled to arrive in the UK next week for a state visit that will include a banquet at Windsor Castle with King Charles III.
Mandelson’s dismissal over his links to Epstein may create additional awkwardness, given that Trump himself has faced scrutiny over his past associations with the convicted sex offender.
In a statement on Wednesday before his sacking, Mandelson had expressed “deep regret” over his relationship with Epstein, saying he had “relied on assurances of his innocence that turned out later to be horrendously false.”
The ambassador had admitted the revelations were “very embarrassing” and said he felt “tremendous sympathy” for Epstein’s victims, but ultimately these expressions of regret proved insufficient to save his position.
As Farage noted, the sacking had indeed become “inevitable” – another dramatic chapter in the tumultuous career of one of British politics‘ most controversial figures.
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