Peter Mandelson, one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent political figures — long dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” — has seen his political career collapse following the release of documents linking him to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The fallout has rippled through Westminster, prompting Mandelson’s resignation from the House of Lords, the launch of a criminal investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police into alleged leaks of sensitive government information, and intense scrutiny of the decision by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to appoint him as ambassador to Washington in late 2024. 

The extraordinary episode has undermined confidence in senior British leadership and raised questions about due diligence in public appointments as the government navigates the scandal’s political ramifications.

Mandelson, 72, a veteran Labour politician who served in senior cabinet roles for successive governments, was dismissed as ambassador in September 2025 after U.S. Department of Justice files disclosed email correspondence with Epstein post-conviction that indicated a closer relationship than previously acknowledged.

Those communications suggested Mandelson had shared market-sensitive briefings and correspondence about government policy matters, including economic and tax policy, with Epstein as early as 2009, while he was business secretary in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

Evidence also indicates Epstein or his associates made funds transfers to accounts linked to Mandelson or his husband in the early 2000s.

In the most recent developments, Mandelson notified the clerk of the parliaments of his intention to retire from the House of Lords, effectively ending his long parliamentary career.

The Metropolitan Police’s Central Specialist Crime team executed searches at properties associated with him as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office tied to the Epstein files released by U.S. authorities.

Although he has not been charged with a criminal offence, the probe focuses on whether he unlawfully shared confidential or market-sensitive information while serving in government.

The political fallout has extended to Downing Street, where Starmer faces sustained pressure over his judgment in appointing Mandelson to the United States at a time when his ties to Epstein were known to vetting officials, although Starmer has stressed he was misled about the extent of the relationship.

The prime minister’s chief of staff resigned amid the controversy, and calls have grown for release of documents relating to the ambassadorial appointment.

Starmer has publicly apologised for misjudging his appointee’s conduct and reiterated his government’s commitment to transparency and accountability as the scandal continues to reverberate across British political life.