Lord Mandelson quits Labour Party amid Epstein controversy

Labour Party – (Web Desk) – Lord Mandelson has announced he is leaving the Labour Party, saying he does not want to create further embarrassment following renewed scrutiny over his past association with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The former cabinet minister, who was removed from his role as US ambassador last year due to those links, was named in newly released files by the US Department of Justice on Friday.

The documents claim Epstein transferred a total of $75,000 (£55,000) to Mandelson through three separate payments in 2003 and 2004.

In a letter to Labour’s general secretary, Mandelson said he was “deeply regretful” after being drawn once again into the controversy surrounding Epstein.

Lord Mandelson has resigned from the Labour Party over the Epstein files scandal

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He strongly denied the allegations, stating he has no memory or records of receiving any such payments and intends to investigate the matter himself. He added that, to avoid further damage to the party, he had decided to step down from his Labour Party membership.

“I want to take this opportunity to repeat my apology to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now.

“I have dedicated my life to the values and success of the Labour Party and in taking my decision, I believe I am acting in its best interests.”

Earlier on Sunday, Lord Mandelson had said he did not know whether the newly released documents were authentic.

He reiterated his regret for “ever having known Epstein” and for continuing his association following the disgraced financier’s conviction, apologising “unequivocally to the women and girls who suffered”.

Labour MP Gordon McKee told BBC Radio 4 that Epstein’s victims would be “rightly outraged” by the recent revelations and that Lord Mandelson had done the “right thing” by resigning from the Labour Party.

A Conservative Party spokesman criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for “allowing Mandelson to resign from the Labour Party instead of kicking him out”.

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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch earlier on Sunday had called on the prime minister to suspend Lord Mandelson’s membership and launch an investigation into his ties to Epstein.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed had said the government was not aware of Lord Mandelson’s alleged financial links to Epstein, after being asked about it by Laura Kuenssberg.