Peter Mandelson, the Ambassador of Great Britain in the United States, was fired by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday after an electronic email treasure revealed the depth of his ties with the US sexual offender condemned by the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Known for his maneuver behind the scene during a race that lasted more than three decades, Mandelson was forced to the most desirable diplomatic position in Great Britain after some of his letters and emails to Epstein revealed this week.
Starmer, who was fighting at the opinion polls after numerous setbacks, had strongly backed his ambassador on Wednesday as a state visit of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, with whom Mandelson had developed strong ties, next week.
Trump has also faced questions about his links with Epstein, and the White House denied that an alleged birthday letter to the deceased financial is authentic.
Mandelson named Epstein ‘My Best Pal’
Mandelson, who was key to the success of the Labor Party when Tony Blair was prime minister, had been the subject of scrutiny after US legislators published documents, including a letter calling Epstein “My Best Pal”.
The emails were published in the media that show that Mandelson had advised Epstein to fight for early launch in 2008 when he was about to be sentenced to 18 months in prison for requesting a minor.
“The emails show that the depth and scope of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from the one known at the time of his appointment,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain.
The Mandelson’s suggestion report that Epstein’s first sentence was unfair and should be challenged was “new information,” he said, added that Starmer had requested his elimination.
On Wednesday, Mandelson had said that he deeply regretted having met Epstein, and that he had carried out the association “for much longer than he should have done”, a statement that seemed to satisfy the prime minister.
Starmer had praised Mandelson, the first designated politician for the position in almost half a century, for his efforts to ensure a commercial agreement with the United States. However, after being expelled from the Cabinet twice under Blair, Mandelson was not oblivious to the controversy.
Last week, the deputy of the deputy of Starmer, Angela Rayner, for her tax affairs, forced Starmer to a wide reorganization of the cabinet and eclipsed what had been a relaunch for her labor government.
As economic growth does not turn on and possible tax increases, the populist reform of Nigel Farage, the United Kingdom, has overcome work in opinion surveys, and Starmer’s party is restless.
