Peter Mandelson quits Lords over Epstein ties after leaking information to paedo tycoon
Scandal-hit former Labour politician Peter Mandelson ‘let his country down’ according to PM Keir Starmer, as his links to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal grow
Lord Mandelson was pictured half dressed alongside a woman in a bathrobe in an image released by the US government
Sir Keir Starmer said scandal-hit Peter Mandelson had “let his country down” after he quit the Lords over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The Prime Minister handed a dossier on the peer to the police and is drafting laws to strip him of his peerage.
It comes after claims that Mandelson, the then-business secretary, leaked market-sensitive information to the paedo tycoon in emails during the 2008 financial crisis. Sir Keir said he was “appalled” by the reported leaks in the bombshell Epstein Files.
The PM’s spokesperson said he had told cabinet that Mandy had “let his country down”. He added: “The public don’t really see individuals in this scandal, they see politicians.
“For the public to see politicians saying they can’t recall receiving significant sums of money or not was just gobsmacking, causing them to lose faith in all politicians and weaken trust still further. The Prime Minister said that was why moving quickly in this matter was vital.”
It comes after Mandelson announced on Tuesday that he is quitting the House of Lords after days of heavy pressure over his links to Epstein.
Meanwhile, the PM also ordered officials to draft laws to strip him of his peerage. Sir Keir’s spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister believes there is a broader need for the House of Lords to be able to remove transgressors more quickly.
“The Prime Minister regards it as ridiculous that a peerage cannot be removed except with primary legislation, something that has not happened since 1917. He thinks that in no other walk of life are you unsackable unless a law is passed.”
Elsewhere, ex-PM Gordon Brown said he’s written to Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley “with information relevant to his investigation of Lord Mandelson’s disclosure of market sensitive and confidential Government information” to Epstein.
And other explosive emails showed Epstein paid Mandelson’s husband $4k (£2,900) a month. The financier fiend sent funds to Reinaldo Avila da Silva when the peer was business secretary.
Three payments totalling $12,000 were wired to da Silva’s account in 2010. It is unclear if other payments were made or what the cash was for.
It comes after files released last week showed Epstein sent £10,000 to Mr da Silva in 2009 after he asked for money for an osteopathy therapy course. The General Osteopathic Council said Mandelson’s hubby never graduated from a course in the UK.
And separate emails alleged the peer was sent dosh from Epstein in 2003 and 2004 when he was a Labour MP.
Mandelson’s spokesman said he had no record or recollection of receiving the 2003 and 2004 payments, and didn’t know if the documents were authentic.
Speaking before the scandal erupted on Tuesday (February 3), the peer insisted he’s not willing to go and “hide under a rock” over the scandal. And he suggested he would still be the US ambassador if the emails hadn’t emerged.
He told The Times: “Hiding under a rock would be a disproportionate response to a handful of misguided historical emails, which I deeply regret sending. If it hadn’t been for the emails, I’d still be in Washington.
“Emails sent all those years ago didn’t change the relationship that I had with this monster. I feel the same about the recent download of Epstein files, none of which indicate wrongdoing or misdemeanour on my part.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
