British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sept. 11 fired the country’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, after correspondence came to light revealing the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
London’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) said in a statement announcing his dismissal that he was being withdrawn “in light of the additional information in emails” written by the diplomat.
In emails published by The Sun and Bloomberg on Wednesday, Mandelson described the convicted sex offender as his “best pal” and suggested that Epstein’s first conviction in 2008 was “wrongful and should be challenged.”
“The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment,” the FCDO said. “In particular Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information. In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes, he has been withdrawn as Ambassador with immediate effect.”
James Roscoe, British deputy head of the mission in Washington, will serve as interim ambassador and oversee President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, the government said.
Mandelson, a former MP and cabinet minister in the UK who was a key ally of former Prime Minister Tony Blair during his term, was selected for the Washington job in December last year after what were described as “extensive vetting and background checks” by UK Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty in the House of Commons on Thursday.
He formally took up the role in February, following his official acceptance by the Trump administration.
In an interview with The Sun, Mandelson said he regretted his friendship with Epstein and felt sympathy for his victims.
He said his association with Epstein was “an albatross around” his neck.
“I regret very, very deeply indeed, carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done,” he said.
His removal comes just a day after Starmer said he had confidence in him during Prime Minister’s Questions.
“The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with Epstein, and he is right to do so,” Starmer said on Wednesday. “I have confidence in him, and he is playing an important role in the UK–U.S. relationship.”
Mandelson resigned from Blair’s government in 1998 and 2001. In the wake of his second resignation from Blair’s government, Mandelson became a European commissioner when Britain was still in the European Union, before returning to front-line British politics in 2008 to serve under Blair’s successor, Gordon Brown.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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