Britain’s Ambassador to america, Peter Mandelson, speaks throughout a welcome reception for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on the ambassador’s residence on Feb. 26, in Washington, D.C.
Carl Court docket/Pool Getty Photographs
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Carl Court docket/Pool Getty Photographs
LONDON — Days earlier than President Trump arrives in the UK for a state go to, the U.Ok. has fired its ambassador to Washington over hyperlinks to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In 2008, earlier than changing into ambassador to america, Peter Mandelson — a former Cupboard minister and European Union commerce commissioner from the center-left Labour Social gathering — wrote Epstein an electronic mail saying, “I believe the world of you and I really feel hopeless and livid about what has occurred.”
In one other, he wrote: “Your folks stick with you and love you.”
Mandelson’s emails, revealed Wednesday by The Solar newspaper, have been despatched after Epstein was indicted by a grand jury in 2006. The New York financier pleaded responsible two years later to soliciting intercourse with a minor.
On Thursday, U.Ok. International Workplace minister Stephen Doughty advised Parliament that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was withdrawing Mandelson as ambassador — efficient instantly.
The International Workplace says the emails present the extent of Mandelson’s relationship with the late intercourse offender was “materially completely different” from what was recognized on the time he was appointed as ambassador. It singled out considered one of his emails during which Mandelson lamented Epstein’s conviction, calling it wrongful and suggesting it needs to be challenged.
Mandelson is understood in U.Ok. politics as a behind-the-scenes spin physician, who performed a major function within the 1997 election of Prime Minister Tony Blair, incomes the nickname “Prince of Darkness.”
In 2001, after resigning in scandal from Blair’s authorities after which profitable reelection to Parliament, he famously referred to as himself a “fighter … not a quitter.” (The scandal concerned allegations that Mandelson helped an Indian billionaire get a British passport; an official inquiry cleared him of any wrongdoing.)
His firing as ambassador complicates Starmer’s efforts to construct rapport with the Trump administration, and it comes because the U.S. president prepares to journey Tuesday to the U.Ok. for a state go to.
His firing complicates Starmer’s efforts to construct rapport with the Trump administration, and it comes because the U.S. president prepares to journey Tuesday to the U.Ok. for a state go to.
Photographs have additionally emerged of Mandelson in a bathrobe at Epstein’s house. And in an notorious Epstein birthday guide — which features a drawing of a lady’s physique that President Trump denies penning — there’s additionally a handwritten message from Mandelson, calling Epstein his “greatest pal.”
In a TV interview Wednesday, earlier than his firing, Mandelson mentioned he now sees Epstein as “a charismatic felony liar” who has turn into “an albatross round my neck.”
“I remorse very a lot that I fell for his lies,” he mentioned.
The choice to fireplace Mandelson got here lower than 24 hours after Starmer advised Parliament he had confidence in his U.S. envoy, who had served within the place for seven months. Opposition politicians referred to as the revelations about Mandelson “sickening” and accused Starmer of poor judgment in retaining him within the function for thus lengthy.
Mandelson can be changed by his deputy, James Roscoe, a veteran diplomat and former communications chief to the late Queen Elizabeth II. He’ll oversee Trump’s state go to with King Charles III subsequent week.
