Al-Yurae-London- Britain dismissed its ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, over ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, the Foreign Office said Thursday.
The ministry said newly disclosed emails revealed this week show the extent of the 71-year-old diplomat’s relationship with Epstein was far deeper than previously known at the time of his appointment. In light of the correspondence, the statement added, Prime Minister Keir Starmer instructed the foreign secretary to withdraw him from the post.
Among the documents was a 2003 birthday message Mandelson sent to Epstein, calling him “the best friend” and praising his intelligence and wit. The letter was released earlier this week by members of the U.S. Congress.
While Starmer initially defended Mandelson on Wednesday, stressing that he had repeatedly expressed deep regret for his association with Epstein, British media including The Sun reported that the ambassador had also written emails in support of Epstein while the financier faced sex-trafficking charges in Florida.
The Foreign Office said Mandelson’s claim in the emails that Epstein’s first conviction was unjust and should be challenged was a new development that factored into the decision.
Mandelson, a career diplomat known for his discreet maneuvers across more than three decades in public service, had been considered close to Starmer. His dismissal, announced less than two weeks before President Donald Trump’s scheduled state visit to the United Kingdom — and days after the deputy prime minister resigned over a tax scandal — represents a significant political blow for the prime minister.
