Peter Mandelson served as the Labour MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004.

From 1997 to 2010, Mandelson held multiple ministerial roles under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He was made a life peer in 2008. During this time, the self-described “Third Man” in New Labour was forced out of Blair’s cabinet on two occasions over politically damaging controversies.

In December 2024, Mandelson was appointed as the British ambassador to the United States of America, despite concerns relating to his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein, a billionaire financier born and raised in New York, was known for socialising with celebrities and politicians.

This decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador backfired catastrophically on the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and his government. It is widely regarded as one of the defining misjudgements of Starmer’s premiership.

Mandelson was sacked as ambassador in September 2025 after Downing Street said new information about the depth of his relationship with Epstein had emerged. It was later revealed that Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador before a full, in-depth national security vetting process had been concluded.

On 3 February 2026, the Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation into allegations he leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive information to Epstein. Some weeks later, he was arrested as part of the investigation. Mandelson denied any wrongdoing and was released with the investigation ongoing. Mandelson’s bail conditions were dropped in March 2026.

Mandelson stepped down from the House of Lords and resigned from the Labour Party in February 2026.

Ambassadorship to the United States (2024-2025)

On 20 December 2024, Keir Starmer announced the appointment of Mandelson as the next British ambassador to the United States of America.

Starmer’s decision to dispatch the supposedly diplomatically savvy “prince of darkness” to the states was designed to secure influence with the incoming administration of Donald Trump. Starmer described Mandelson, the former New Labour strategist and European commissioner for trade, as possessing “unrivalled experience”.

Mandelson, at the age of 71, pledged to land the “big opportunities” offered by the transatlantic alliance.

The appointment was also made despite public criticism regarding Mandelson’s past associations – above all his longstanding friendship with Epstein. In February 2025, when asked about his association with Epstein by the Financial Times, Mandelson responded: “It’s an FT obsession and frankly you can all f*** off.”

Mandelson assumed office on 10 February 2025 and, initially, the gamble of his appointment appeared to pay off.

In May 2025, Mandelson was praised by Trump in the Oval Office for his role in negotiating trade exemptions after the US administration imposed sweeping “liberation day” tariffs on imports. The US president referred to Mandelson’s “beautiful accent”.

But Mandelson’s ambassadorial honeymoon was short-lived.

Relationship with Epstein and downfall

On 8 September 2025, the US House of Representatives oversight committee released a cache of documents from Epstein’s estate. The files revealed a relationship between Mandelson and Epstein that was deeper than had been public knowledge at the time of his appointment. They included a series of messages from a 2003 book compiled by convicted child sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s birthday.

The so-called “birthday book” contained a glowing 10-page tribute to Epstein from Mandelson. In it, Mandelson referred to Epstein as his “best pal”.

The last part of the lengthy birthday message read: “Happy Birthday Jeffrey, we love you!!”

Later on 8 September, Bloomberg sent a 2,000-word email to the ambassador containing 20 questions about a cache of unearthed correspondence. The Foreign Office (FCDO) became aware of the emails the following day, on 9 September.

On 10 September, Mandelson gave a video interview to the Sun. He spoke of his “very, very deep regret”. He described Jeffrey Epstein as an “albatross around his neck” and hinted at further “very embarrassing” revelations.

Later on 10 September, Starmer defended the US ambassador during a session of prime minister’s questions. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader of the opposition, asked Starmer if he still had confidence in the ambassador. The prime minister insisted that he did, saying Lord Mandelson was “playing an important role in the UK-US relationship”.

He said: “The relationship between the US and the UK is one of our foremost relationships, and I have confidence in the ambassador in the role he is doing.”

Referring to Epstein, the prime minister added: “He was a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women and girls. The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with him. He’s right to do so.”

Later that day, the Sun published a news story containing some of the emails Bloomberg had previously asked Mandelson about. The most damaging revelation was an email sent in June 2008, after Epstein had been convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Mandelson wrote to the disgraced financier: “I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened.

“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… everything can be turned into an opportunity and that you will come through it and be stronger for it.

“The whole thing has been years of torture and now you have to show the world how big a person you are, and how strong.

“Your friends stay with you and love you.”

Bloomberg responded by publishing its full cache of Epstein-Mandelson correspondence.

Following the publication of the 2008 emails, Starmer sacked Mandelson on 11 September 2025.

Mandelson’s departure was announced by Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty, who had been hauled before the commons to answer an urgent question on the “appointment process” the US ambassador underwent.

The controversy over Mandelson’s appointment persisted into 2026.

In late January 2026, a release of US Department of Justice files relating to Epstein suggested the paedophile financier made $75,000 (£55,000) in payments to Mandelson in three separate $25,000 transactions in 2003 and 2004. Another email suggested Epstein sent £10,000 to Mandelson’s partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, in 2009 to pay for an osteopathy course.

Mandelson responded by resigning his membership of the Labour Party, saying he did not want to “cause further embarrassment”.

Mandelson stated: “Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me…

“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.”

The following day, on 2 February, a further tranche of emails were released suggesting Mandelson forwarded internal government information to Epstein in June 2009. At the time, Mandelson was business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government and de facto deputy prime minister. One exchange suggested Mandelson gave Epstein advance notice of a €500 billion bailout by the EU to save the Euro. Another suggested that Mandelson tried to secure changes to a planned tax on bankers’ bonuses following conversations with Epstein.

On 3 February, the Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation into Mandelson over allegations of misconduct in public office.

In a statement, the Met commander Ella Marriott said: “Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office, including a referral from the UK government.

“I can confirm that the Metropolitan police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences.

“The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won’t be commenting any further at this time.”

On 4 February, MPs passed a humble address motion, tabled by the opposition Conservative Party, forcing the government to publicly disclose internal papers, electronic communications and vetting materials relating to the appointment. The motion called for the release of “all papers relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America”. It specifically questioned Starmer’s “assurance to this House on 10 September 2025 that ‘full due process was followed during this appointment’”.

Four days later on 8 February, Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister’s chief of staff since 2024, resigned over his role in Mandelson’s appointment. McSweeney said he took “full responsibility” for the advice he presented to the prime minister.

On 23 February, Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released on bail in the early hours of the following day.

Following his release, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation.

“He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February, and was taken to a London police station for interview.”

A statement, issued by a lawyer representing Mandelson, responded: “The arrest was prompted by a baseless suggestion that he was planning to leave the country and take up permanent residence abroad. There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in any such suggestion.”

The Mandelson humble address files were released in batches. The first tranche of material was published on 11 March; the second was released on 1 June.

The material laid bare the criticisms Mandelson and government ministers were making of Starmer, No 10 and Labour MPs. In an exchange with Pat McFadden, then the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in May 2025, Mandelson wrote that “Keir lacks verve as does the cabinet as a whole.”

McFadden, meanwhile, revealed his annoyance that meetings were dominated by “who can we tax in order to pay benefits”.

The Mandelson scandal contributed to the 2026 Labour leadership crisis.

Peter Mandelson: rise to prominence (1983-1997)

Mandelson was employed in Roy Hattersley’s successful 1983 deputy leadership campaign team. The result of the 1983 Labour leadership and deputy leadership contests was a “dream ticket” victory for Hattersley and Neil Kinnock.

Kinnock appointed Mandelson as the Labour Party’s director of communications in 1985. He held this post until 1990. Mandelson was identified as a “spin doctor”, becoming one of the first individuals to whom this term was applied.

Mandelson directed Labour’s 1987 general election campaign alongside Bryan Gould. The campaign aimed to overhaul the party’s image and that of its leader – including with a celebrated party election broadcast directed by the filmmaker Hugh Hudson (of Chariots of Fire). The slick broadcast, dubbed “Kinnock: The Movie”, was an attempt to portray the Labour leader as down to earth and understanding. Kinnock’s popularity is said to have jumped markedly in the wake of the broadcast.

Labour’s manifesto, Britain Will Win with Labour, was also a more moderate document than its unapologetically left-wing predecessor, but the party still struggled to overcome public concerns about its economic policies and its commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament.

The 1987 general election ultimately resulted in a third consecutive Conservative victory under Margaret Thatcher.

Mandelson was first elected to parliament as the MP for Hartlepool at the 1992 general election. He was reportedly sidelined during John Smith’s leadership of the Labour Party from 1992 to 1994. But during this time, he formed a close political relationship with Labour MPs identified as “modernisers”, notably Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.

Smith’s sudden death triggered the 1994 Labour leadership contest. Mandelson ultimately chose to support Blair – a decision that caused lasting damage to his relationship with Brown.

Mandelson was a central architect of Labour’s 1990s “modernisation” under Blair, playing a pivotal role in the New Labour project.

Cabinet career and resignations under Blair

Mandelson directed Labour’s 1997 general election campaign, which resulted in a landslide victory. Labour ran a highly disciplined and professional campaign; the party’s message of change was summed up by its campaign anthem, D:Ream’s “Things Can Only Get Better”.

Mandelson served as minister without portfolio from May 1997 to July 1998 with responsibility for the Millennium dome. His grandfather, Herbert Morrison, had masterminded the 1951 Festival of Britain during his tenure as a senior figure in Clement Attlee’s cabinet. Morrison’s festival attracted contemporary criticism but is remembered as a resounding success.

On 28 January 1998, Mandelson told the House of Commons that construction of the Dome was “ahead of time”, that spending remained “within budget”, and that the development of the dome’s contents had “leaped ahead”. The Conservative opposition, however, sought to exploit what they saw as the government’s mismanagement of the project.

Blair appointed Mandelson as secretary of state for trade and industry in July 1998.

On 23 December 1998, Mandelson resigned as trade and industry secretary following the revelation that he had accepted an undisclosed loan of £373,000 from the multimillionaire Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson.

The scandal centred on a loan Mandelson received from Robinson in 1996 to help purchase a four-storey home in Notting Hill. Mandelson failed to declare the loan in the register of members’ interests or to his building society, Britannia Building Society, when applying for a mortgage. (Britannia decided not to take any action). The prevailing contemporary theory attributed the revelation of the loan to a leak from the camp of Gordon Brown, specifically his press secretary Charlie Whelan – as part of the ongoing feud between the chancellor and Mandelson. Whelan denied being the source.

In his resignation letter, addressed to Blair, Mandelson said he was “sorry about this situation”.

The outgoing minister added: “But we came to power promising to uphold the highest possible standards in public life. We have not just to do so, but we must be seen to do so…

“I will always be a loyal Labour man and I am not prepared to see the party and the government suffer the kind of attack this issue has provoked.”

Blair expressed his “profound thanks” for all Mandelson had done.

The prime minister wrote: “You and I have been personal friends and the closest of political colleagues. It is no exaggeration to say that without your support and advice we would never have built New Labour.”

Mandelson spent 10 months on the backbenches before returning to the cabinet in October 1999 as secretary of state for Northern Ireland, replacing Mo Mowlam.

But Mandelson’s political rehabilitation was short-lived.

On 24 January 2001, Mandelson stepped down as Northern Ireland secretary, resigning from the cabinet for the second time in just over two years. Mandelson’s second resignation followed allegations that he had intervened in the passport application of Indian tycoon Srichand Hinduja. The alleged intervention took place in 1998 when Mandelson was a minister without portfolio with responsibility for the Millennium Dome.

Mandelson’s resignation came after he was summoned to Downing Street to establish the facts of the case. His resignation statement was delivered outside 10 Downing Street just after 13:30. He denied any wrongdoing, but conceded he had issued public statements on the issue of the passports to reporters which gave the wrong impression as to his involvement.

The departure of Mandelson, a key architect of the New Labour project and one of Tony Blair’s closest allies, was seen as a significant blow to the government. In light of his second resignation, BBC News reported that Mandelson’s political career “at the highest… level appears to be over”.

An independent inquiry later cleared Mandelson of having influenced the passport decision. The inquiry, led by Sir Anthony Hammond, found there was no connection between the Hindujas’ donation to the Millennium Dome and their successful applications for citizenship. The inquiry concluded: “No improper pressure was brought to bear by any minister in respect of these applications.”

Blair’s alleged “reliance” on Mandelson was mocked by the Conservative Party and its leader, William Hague, during this time. In a pre-election speech, delivered on 4 March 2001, Hague asked his audience to “imagine four more years of Labour.”

He stated: “Just imagine four more years of Labour. Try to picture what our country would look like. Let me take you on a journey to a foreign land to Britain after a second term of Tony Blair.

“The Royal Mint melting down pound coins as the euro notes start to circulate. Our currency gone forever…

“The Dome still for sale. Peter Mandelson re-appointed to the cabinet for a fourth time.”

Mandelson was re-elected as the Labour MP for Hartlepool at the 2001 general election. He had been challenged by the president of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Arthur Scargill, standing for the Socialist Labour Party, and former Labour Party press officer John Booth, standing as “Genuine Labour”.

Mandelson was ultimately re-elected with a large majority of 14,571 votes over the Conservative candidate. Scargill secured just 912 votes; Booth won 424 votes.

In a famous victory speech, Mandelson told his Hartlepool constituency count that he was a “fighter and not a quitter”. These exact words were later employed by Liz Truss shortly before her resignation as prime minister.

Mandelson stated: “In politics, as in life, you have bad days and you have good days, and I think today has been a good day…

“I am grateful to Hartlepool for putting me back on the political map. Before this campaign started, it was said that I was facing political oblivion, my career in tatters, apparently never to be part of the political living again.

“Well, they underestimated Hartlepool, and they underestimated me, because I am a fighter and not a quitter.”

In March 2003, Mandelson voted in favour of the government motion authorising military action against Iraq. The vote, one of the most contentious in recent parliamentary history, gave the prime minister, Tony Blair, the authority to join the US-led invasion.

Comeback under Gordon Brown

Mandelson stepped down from parliament in 2004, having been appointed as European commissioner for trade.

As EU trade commissioner, Mandelson suggested Brown – Blair’s successor as prime minister – should have made the case for the EU more positively. “In politics you don’t win an argument by putting yourself on the back foot”, he said. “If you have a case you make it confidently, you present it with conviction.” The comments came after Brown belatedly signed the Treaty of Lisbon – committing the United Kingdom to the European Union’s reformed constitutional framework. The British prime minister was the only one of the 27 national leaders to miss the official televised signing ceremony.

In October 2008, Mandelson was recalled from his post as European commissioner to serve as secretary of state for business, enterprise, and regulatory reform in Gordon Brown’s cabinet. In order to take up this position, he was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Mandelson of Foy and Hartlepool.

In his maiden speech in the Lords, Mandelson said it was “nice to be back.”

In June 2009, Mandelson was appointed as first secretary of state.

Mandelson was a Labour negotiator during the “five days of May” crisis that followed the 2010 general election.

In a July 2010 interview with the Times, Lord (Peter) Mandelson said that Brown had been “very badly served” by his allies when he was chancellor.

Mandelson commented: “The unbridled contempt that some people around Gordon had for Tony and those who worked for him was very destructive.”

Early life and background

Mandelson was born on 23 October 1953 in Hendon, Middlesex. He studied philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford, graduating in 1976.

Mandelson then took a job in the economic department of the Trades Union Congress. He was chairman of the British Youth Council from 1978 to 1980.

Mandelson served as a Labour councillor on Lambeth Council from 1979 to 1982, before working as a television producer for London Weekend Television on the programme Weekend World from 1982 to 1985.

Personal Life

Mandelson married Reinaldo Avila da Silva on 28 October 2023. The couple met in the Caribbean in the mid-1990s. They have a collie dog named Jock.

Mandelson underwent hospital treatment for kidney stone disease in 2008.

Trivia

Mandelson was portrayed by Paul Rhys in the 2003 Channel 4 drama The Deal, and by Mark Gatiss in the 2015 Channel 4 drama Coalition.