Pressure Mounts on Mandelson to Quit Lords Over Epstein Links
Documents released by the United States Department of Justice have revealed that the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein received internal discussions from the heart of the UK government. This has sparked significant political pressure on Lord Peter Mandelson, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to resign from the House of Lords.
Prime Minister's Stance and Legal Limitations
Downing Street has confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer believes Lord Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title. However, the Prime Minister's official spokesman clarified that Sir Keir does not possess the power to strip him of his peerage. This legal constraint highlights the complex constitutional arrangements surrounding the removal of peers.
Under current rules, a new law would be required to remove a peerage, a measure last used over a century ago against nobility who sided with Germany during the First World War. There exists no precedent for employing new legislation to remove a specific individual from the Lords. Sir Keir has consequently urged the upper chamber to collaborate with the Government to modernise disciplinary procedures, making it easier to eject disgraced peers.
Cabinet Secretary's Urgent Review
The country's top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald, has been tasked with conducting an urgent review. This investigation will examine all available information regarding Lord Mandelson's contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a government minister under Gordon Brown's administration.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated he had previously requested Sir Chris to investigate the disclosure of confidential and market-sensitive information during the global financial crisis. Mr Brown has now called for a wider and more intensive enquiry into what he describes as the wholly unacceptable disclosure of government papers and information during that critical period.
Allegations of Information Leaks and Lobbying
The released documents indicate that Epstein was sent internal UK government discussions following the global financial crisis. Specific allegations include:
- Lord Mandelson, then Business Secretary, appearing to tell Epstein he would lobby ministers over a tax on bankers' bonuses in 2009.
- An email from December 2009, seemingly from Epstein, asking about making the tax apply only to the cash portion of bankers' bonuses, with an apparent reply from Lord Mandelson stating he was trying hard to amend the policy and that the Treasury was digging in but I am on case.
- An email discussion two days later suggesting Lord Mandelson encouraged JP Morgan's CEO Jamie Dimon to call then-Chancellor Alistair Darling and mildly threaten him.
- Lord Mandelson confirming an imminent 500 billion euro bailout package for the eurozone to Epstein on May 9, 2010, the day before its official announcement.
- The passing of an analysis of business lending from August 2009, prepared by government minister Baroness Vadera, to Epstein, with Lord Mandelson involved in the original government email thread.
- An earlier email from June 2009 where Lord Mandelson forwarded to Epstein an assessment by Gordon Brown's adviser Nick Butler regarding potential policy measures, including an asset sales plan.
Calls for Police Investigation and Political Reactions
The Liberal Democrats have called for a police investigation into Lord Mandelson for potential misconduct in public office. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated the allegations are incredibly serious, noting that the files suggest Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to a convicted sex offender and even suggested a US bank should threaten the government.
Cabinet Minister Bridget Phillipson told BBC Radio 5 Live that the situation was as serious as it gets and constituted behaviour not befitting a government minister. She added that if evidence of criminality exists, it should be pursued.
Financial Links and Resignation from Labour
Further complicating matters, bank statements from 2003 and 2004 appear to show Lord Mandelson received payments totalling $75,000 (approximately £54,000) from Epstein. The financier is also said to have paid for an osteopathy course for Lord Mandelson's husband in 2009.
On Sunday night, Lord Mandelson resigned his membership of the Labour Party, which revealed he was facing a disciplinary process. In his resignation letter, he stated that allegations of financial payments from Epstein 20 years ago, which he believes to be false and of which he has no record or recollection, needed investigating by him. He expressed a desire not to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party.
Lord Mandelson was dismissed as the UK ambassador to Washington last year after details emerged of his continued contact with Epstein following the financier's 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor. In his letter, Lord Mandelson also repeated his apology to the women and girls whose voices he said should have been heard much earlier.
The Metropolitan Police have been contacted regarding these allegations. Lord Mandelson, currently on a leave of absence from the House of Lords, could choose to resign his peerage voluntarily, a move that would circumvent the complex legal hurdles facing his forced removal.
