Peter Mandelson is ready to retire from the Home of Lords following the newest revelations about his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
His resolution to go away the higher chamber was introduced by the Lord Speaker, Lord Forsyth, shortly earlier than 3pm. His departure will turn into efficient in a single day.
In response to the announcement, a Downing Road spokesperson mentioned: “It’s proper that Peter Mandelson will now not be a member of the Home of Lords. Because the prime minister mentioned this morning, Peter Mandelson let his nation down.”
Tap here for live coverage as our team combs through the Epstein files
Piling public stress on Lord Mandelson, Downing Road mentioned that Sir Keir Starmer had informed a gathering of his cupboard that he was “appalled by the data that had emerged over the weekend”, which included “the alleged passing on of emails of extremely delicate authorities enterprise” by Lord Mandelson that was “disgraceful”.
The prime minister “requested the cupboard secretary to overview all accessible info relating to Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein throughout his time serving as a authorities minister”, Downing Road mentioned.
Moreover, the Cupboard Workplace has made a referral to the Metropolitan Police about how Lord Mandelson dealt with delicate info when he was in authorities earlier than the 2010 common election, and Downing Road mentioned it could provide the police its full cooperation with its inquiries.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it had acquired the federal government’s referral, and that an replace could be issued sooner or later.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has additionally written to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley with “info related to his investigation of Lord Mandelson’s disclosure of market delicate and confidential Authorities info”, he mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday.
Lord Mandelson has been contacted for remark.
Reacting to Lord Mandelson’s resolution to step down, Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch wrote on X: “5 months in the past, Mandelson was UK ambassador with the complete confidence of the PM. Right now he’s now not the ambassador, in Labour or a peer.
“The scandal, sleaze, and velocity of his downfall solely will increase the scrutiny on Starmer and [his chief of staff Morgan] McSweeney’s resolution to ship him to Washington.”
Though Mandelson will stop to be a member of the Home of Lords from midnight, he is not going to mechanically lose his the title of ‘Lord’, which is separate from membership of the higher chamber. It’s understood the federal government intends to move pursue laws to take away his peerage altogether.
The New Labour grandee was awarded a life peerage in 2008, however had been on a depart of absence from 31 January final yr following his appointment as UK ambassador to Washington – a submit from which he was sacked in September after extra particulars about his hyperlinks to Epstein emerged.
Lord Mandelson pictured talking on the despatch field within the Home of Lords in 2009. Pic: PA
Stepping down from the higher chamber is the newest growth within the dramatic fall from grace for the previous cupboard minister, having resigned his Labour membership on Sunday to keep away from inflicting the get together “additional embarrassment” after paperwork in newly launched information appeared to indicate he acquired $75,000 from Epstein.
The most recent batch of paperwork launched by the US Division of Justice contains three obvious financial institution statements detailing three cash transfers of $25,000 every from the financier to a Peter Mandelson in 2003 and 2004.
It’s unclear whether or not the funds ever made it into any named accounts.
Lord Mandelson, who was the Labour MP for Hartlepool when the information counsel the funds have been made, has denied any document or recollection of the funds – and questioned their authenticity.
He has beforehand mentioned in an announcement: “I wish to say loudly and clearly that I used to be flawed to consider him [Epstein] following his conviction and to proceed my affiliation with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the ladies and ladies who suffered.”
After resigning from Labour on Sunday, he mentioned he wished “to repeat my apology to the ladies and ladies whose voices ought to have been heard lengthy prior to now”.
Emails have additionally emerged that appeared to indicate Lord Mandelson sharing info with Epstein from inside authorities whereas he was serving as enterprise secretary and de facto deputy prime minister in Gordon Brown’s authorities.
After the publication of the newest batch of Epstein information on the weekend, Metropolitan Police Commander Ella Marriott mentioned in an announcement on Monday: “Following this launch and subsequent media reporting, the Met has acquired numerous stories referring to alleged misconduct in a public workplace.
“The stories will all be reviewed to find out in the event that they meet the legal threshold for investigation.
“As with all matter, if new and related info is dropped at our consideration we are going to assess it, and examine as acceptable.”
He had additionally appeared in an image discovered within the newest Epstein information sporting solely his underwear and a T-shirt, which Sky News has confirmed was taken in the paedophile’s Paris flat.
A spokesperson for Lord Mandelson beforehand informed Sky Information: “Nobody can say who or the place the photograph was taken. Lord Mandelson has completely no thought or certainly whether or not it has any connection to Epstein in any respect.”
He mentioned he felt “regretful and sorry” about weekend revelations linking him to “the comprehensible furore surrounding” Epstein, who took his personal life in jail in 2019.
