On September 11, 2025, the United Kingdom’s diplomatic relationship with the United States was rocked by the abrupt dismissal of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to Washington. The move, announced by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), came after a cascade of revelations about Mandelson’s close and personal relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The fallout, which has dominated headlines across both sides of the Atlantic, has not only ended Mandelson’s brief tenure as ambassador but has also sent shockwaves through British politics and the world of global consultancy.
The dismissal followed a week of mounting pressure and escalating disclosures. On September 10, 2025, The Sun published a trove of emails between Mandelson and Epstein, some dating back to 2008. These messages showed Mandelson advising Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in prison for soliciting prostitution from a minor. In one particularly telling message, Mandelson wrote, “I think the world of you. I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can.” According to Bloomberg News, Mandelson also lamented Epstein’s conviction, stating, “I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened.”
The emails, more than 100 in total and obtained by Bloomberg News, painted a vivid portrait of a relationship that extended far beyond what was previously acknowledged. There were references to Caribbean vacations, cryptic promises of meetings with influential figures (“Mr. Big”), and ongoing correspondence that continued even after Epstein’s release from prison in 2009. These exchanges, some of which surfaced during a 2023 lawsuit against JPMorgan over its alleged role in financing Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring, revealed a friendship that endured until at least 2012.
The controversy deepened with the release by the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of a 50th birthday album compiled in 2003 for Epstein by his former partner, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Among the messages was a handwritten note from Mandelson, calling Epstein “my best pal.” A photograph showed Mandelson lounging in a white bathrobe with Epstein, while another depicted him dining beside a scantily clad young woman. Mandelson’s note in the album read, “Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call ‘mysterious’ parachuted into my life… wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal!”
The FCDO’s statement was unequivocal: “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 office added, “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.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, already contending with political turbulence following the resignation of his deputy prime minister Angela Rayner over a tax controversy, faced pointed questions in Parliament. According to the BBC, Starmer insisted that “full due process was gone through” in Mandelson’s appointment. Yet, the government’s apparent surprise at the scope of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein has been described by The New York Times as a “stinging embarrassment.”
Mandelson, 71, is no stranger to controversy. A veteran Labour politician, he played a pivotal role in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and was dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” for his ruthless political tactics. His career has been punctuated by scandal: he resigned as trade and industry secretary in 1998 over an undeclared £373,000 loan from a colleague, and again in 2001 after intervening with the Home Office on behalf of a billionaire seeking British citizenship. Despite these setbacks, Mandelson repeatedly returned to positions of influence, only to see his career once again derailed—this time, perhaps irrevocably.
In the wake of his dismissal, James Roscoe, the UK’s deputy head of mission in Washington, has stepped in as interim ambassador. Meanwhile, Mandelson’s business interests have also taken a hit. On September 12, 2025, Global Counsel, the advisory firm he co-founded, announced it was severing ties with him. The company began selling off Mandelson’s multimillion-pound stake earlier in the year, with the process expected to conclude within two months. Recent filings show that Mandelson still retains a 21% stake, despite stepping back from the firm after his ambassadorial appointment in December 2024. Global Counsel, which advises major clients like JP Morgan, Barclays, OpenAI, Anglo American, Shein, and TikTok, declined to comment on the matter, as did Mandelson himself when approached by both Bloomberg and the Financial Times.
For many, the revelations have reopened old wounds. The details of Mandelson’s support for Epstein—expressed even after Epstein’s first conviction—have been particularly painful for victims. Calls for justice continue, as Epstein’s legacy of abuse and the failures of those in power to confront it remain a source of public outrage. The British government, for its part, emphasized in its statements that the new information was especially concerning “mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes.”
The scandal has also reverberated across the Atlantic, ensnaring US President Donald Trump. The same birthday album that contained Mandelson’s note also included a lewd sketch allegedly signed by Trump. The White House has denied the letter’s authenticity, and Trump himself has dismissed the accusations as a Democratic conspiracy. Nevertheless, Trump’s own ties to Epstein—long the subject of speculation—have come under renewed scrutiny, particularly as he praised Mandelson and met with him at the White House during the week of September 8-12, 2025, according to The New York Times.
As the dust settles, the Mandelson affair stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the enduring impact of association with figures like Epstein. The episode has left a mark not only on Mandelson’s legacy but also on the credibility of the institutions that appointed and trusted him. For the victims of Epstein’s crimes, the hope remains that these revelations will prompt greater accountability—and that the lessons learned will not soon be forgotten.
