Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned his membership of the Labour Party following fresh revelations about his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement released through the party, Mandelson said he was stepping down to avoid causing “further embarrassment” to Labour amid an escalating furore over newly released “Epstein files” and related documents. Recently published US Department of Justice papers and associated bank records appear to show payments totalling 75,000 dollars to accounts linked to Mandelson in the early 2000s, allegations he says he does not recall and has questioned the authenticity of.
Mandelson said he believed the financial claims “need investigating” by him and reiterated that he feels “regretful and sorry” for having maintained a friendship with Epstein after his conviction, adding an apology to Epstein’s victims whose voices, he said, should have been heard much earlier. He stressed that he was leaving the party in what he considers Labour’s best interests, while remaining a member of the House of Lords.
The resignation comes after months of scrutiny over his past dealings with Epstein, including emails, images and correspondence referenced in the latest document releases. Pressure had been building on Labour’s leadership as calls grew for Mandelson to fully explain his relationship with Epstein and potentially give evidence to US authorities examining the wider network around the late sex offender.
