British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has lost a key figure in the "special relationship" between the UK and the United States. British Ambassador in Washington, Peter Mandelson, has been dismissed due to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the elite pimp from the US and the UK who died in a New York prison in 2019 under unclear circumstances while awaiting trial. US President Donald Trump is also implicated in the scandal.
Mandelson is the epitome of a political mastermind operating in the shadows. Nothing illustrates this better than the nickname "the Prince of Darkness" bestowed upon him by the British press when he served as the Labour Party's communications chief from 1985 to 1990 while in opposition. The former ambassador was instrumental in shaping New Labour, which led to Tony Blair's landslide victory in 1997. Mandelson later served as a minister without portfolio under Blair and subsequently as European Commissioner for Trade.
The cause of his resignation was the publication this week of emails in which Mandelson expressed strong personal support for Epstein after his 2008 conviction for prostituting a minor. "I feel powerless and furious about what has happened," wrote the politician to the pimp, encouraging him to remain "incredibly resilient" while declaring, "your friends are still with you and love you."
The British Foreign Office stated that these emails "reveal that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein are materially different from what was known at the time of his appointment. In particular, the suggestion that Epstein's first conviction was unjust and should be challenged is new information."
Mandelson's closeness to Epstein dates back years. In a birthday message book presented to the financier for his fiftieth birthday in 2003, the Labour politician referred to him as his "best friend" and praised his "interesting friendships."
The relationship between Mandelson and Epstein goes far back and could have political implications, as this week the conservative newspaper The Times also revealed that in 2002, Mandelson had sent a confidential memorandum to then-Prime Minister Tony Blair urging him to meet with Epstein. The release of these communications in the British National Archives was blocked due to fears of the potential negative impact on Anglo-American relations.
The scandal could not have come at a worse time for the British Prime Minister. Just a week ago, his Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, resigned over a tax scandal, and in six days, US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in London on a State visit. Mandelson, one of the architects of that visit, as well as the relatively good relationship between Starmer and Trump, will not be able to savor his success.