UK’s Peter Mandelson to Resign from House of Lords Amid Epstein Investigation

Senior British politician Peter Mandelson is set to resign from the House of Lords following renewed scrutiny of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as UK police assess whether the matter meets the threshold for a criminal investigation.

The Speaker of the House of Lords, Michael Forsyth, confirmed on Tuesday that Mandelson, 72, had formally notified Parliament of his intention to step down. His resignation will take effect on Wednesday.

Police Assess Potential Criminal Conduct

British police said they are currently examining allegations that Mandelson may have passed sensitive government information to Epstein, including politically and market-sensitive insights during the 2008 global financial crisis.

Authorities stated they are reviewing the reports to determine whether the conduct meets the criminal threshold for a full investigation.

The controversy follows the release of a new tranche of US government documents related to Epstein, which has reignited global scrutiny of individuals previously connected to him.

Emails, Financial Records and Personal Links

The unsealed documents reportedly include emails from Mandelson to Epstein discussing political developments, as well as bank records suggesting Epstein transferred tens of thousands of dollars to accounts linked to Mandelson or his partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.

Mandelson has said he does not recall the transactions and intends to examine the documentation.

Additional material shows evidence of a friendly relationship between the two men even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex offences. One image included in the files reportedly shows Mandelson in his underwear beside a woman whose face was obscured by US authorities.

Speaking to the BBC, Mandelson said he could not identify the woman or recall the circumstances surrounding the photograph.

Starmer Orders Urgent Review

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet on Tuesday that he was “appalled” by the information emerging from the Epstein files and warned that further damaging details could still surface.

According to a Downing Street readout, Starmer has instructed the civil service to conduct an urgent review of all Mandelson’s interactions with Epstein during his time in government.

“The alleged passing on of emails of highly sensitive government business was disgraceful,” Starmer said, adding that he was not yet reassured that the full extent of Mandelson’s links had been disclosed.

Political Fallout

Mandelson, a former UK ambassador to the United States and long-time heavyweight in the Labour Party, was dismissed from his ambassadorial role in September following earlier revelations about his Epstein connections.

On Sunday, he resigned from the Labour Party, stating that he wanted to avoid causing “further embarrassment”.

In an interview with The Times published on Tuesday, Mandelson described Epstein as a “master manipulator,” adding:

“I’ve had a lot of bad luck, no doubt some of it of my own making.”

Ongoing Scrutiny

The case marks another high-profile political fallout linked to the Epstein files, as law enforcement agencies and governments continue to examine the actions of individuals named in the documents.

For Mandelson, the resignation brings an abrupt end to a decades-long career at the heart of British political power — though questions surrounding his relationship with Epstein remain unresolved.