Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned his membership of the Labour Party to avoid causing “further embarrassment” after a weekend of further revelations over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Documents emerged in the latest tranche of so-called Epstein Files, released by US officials on Friday, that appeared to show the former business secretary had received $75,000 from the convicted sex offender.
The peer also appeared to tell Epstein he was “trying hard” to change policy on bankers’ bonuses in one email exchange, while elsewhere within the files, documents appeared to show Lord Mandelson’s husband received £10,000 from Epstein, partly to fund an osteopathy course.
On Sunday night, Lord Mandelson said he had written to Hollie Ridley, general secretary of the Labour Party to say he was stepping down from his party membership.
In his letter, he said: “I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this.
“Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me.
“While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party.”
He added: “I want to take this opportunity to repeat my apology to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now.
“I have dedicated my life to the values and success of the Labour Party and in taking my decision, I believe I am acting in its best interests.”
Lord Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador in late 2025 over his links to Epstein, and later offered an apology to Epstein’s victims for maintaining his friendship with the sex offender.
After Lord Mandelson’s resignation from the party, a Labour spokesperson said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously and they are investigated in line with our rules and procedures.”
The Conservatives called for a “full and thorough independent investigation” into Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, after his resignation from the Labour Party.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Lord Mandelson is completely disgraced. Yet Keir Starmer lacked the backbone to take action, allowing Mandelson to resign from the Labour Party instead of kicking him out.
“Keir Starmer and his chief of staff appointed Mandelson ambassador despite his relationship with Epstein, and then refused to act even as the mountain of evidence against him grew.
“Given the Prime Minister’s appalling lack of judgment and the participation of his Downing Street operation, there must now be a full and thorough independent investigation.”
