Prime Minister Calls for Lords Reform Amid Mandelson Scandal
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly stated that Peter Mandelson should not retain his membership in the House of Lords or continue to use his title, following further disturbing revelations about Mandelson's association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement from Number 10 underscores a growing political crisis surrounding the Labour veteran, who recently resigned from the party to avoid causing it "further embarrassment."
Pressure Mounts for Mandelson to Resign
Lord Mandelson, who has been on a leave of absence from the Lords, now faces intense pressure to publicly resign from the upper chamber. Keir Starmer's official spokesman confirmed the Prime Minister's position, stating, "The PM believes Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title." However, the Prime Minister currently lacks the direct authority to strip Mandelson of his peerage, a move that would require new primary legislation.
Starmer has urgently called upon members of the House of Lords to collaborate with the government to modernise disciplinary procedures. The aim is to establish clearer mechanisms for removing "disgraced members" from the chamber. This push for reform highlights the limitations of existing protocols in addressing high-profile scandals involving peers.
Historical Context and Legal Hurdles
Peter Mandelson, a former MP between 1992 and 2004, was elevated to the peerage in 2008. There is no specific legal precedent for removing an individual peer; such an action would necessitate passing new legislation. Historically, the Titles Deprivation Act of 1917 was utilised to revoke peerages from "enemies" during World War I, but this applied to a group rather than targeting a single individual.
The Cabinet Secretary has been instructed to examine all available information concerning Lord Mandelson's contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a government minister. This investigation follows allegations that Mandelson may have leaked sensitive documents from Number 10 to Epstein in 2009, while serving as Business Secretary.
Deepening Revelations from Epstein Files
The scandal has intensified with the release of thousands of documents by the US Department of Justice, which included photographs of Lord Mandelson half-dressed alongside a woman in a bathrobe. Furthermore, bank statements within the files indicate that Epstein sent two payments of $25,000 to Mandelson in 2004, and an additional $25,000 to the account of Reinaldo Avila da Silva, now Lord Mandelson's husband, in 2003.
In response to these allegations, Lord Mandelson has claimed he has "no record and no recollection of receiving these sums" and expressed uncertainty about the authenticity of the documents. He stated, "I can say clearly, though, I regret ever having known Epstein."
Political Fallout and Diplomatic Role
Keir Starmer had appointed Lord Mandelson as Britain's Ambassador to the United States at the end of 2024. However, the Prime Minister dismissed him from this "Trump-whisperer" role in September last year after it emerged that Mandelson had coached Epstein through "years of torture" over underage sex charges. The British Embassy in Washington noted that the depth of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein was "materially different from that known at the time of his appointment."
A Labour Party spokesman commented, "It is right that Peter Mandelson is no longer a member of the Labour Party. Disciplinary action was underway prior to his resignation. Jeffrey Epstein’s heinous crimes destroyed the lives of so many women and girls, and our thoughts remain with his victims."
This developing situation places significant emphasis on the need for constitutional and procedural reforms within the House of Lords, as the government seeks to address accountability and integrity in the wake of the Mandelson-Epstein revelations.
