Matthew Weaver writes:

Just six months ago Peter Mandelson seemed unassailable as the UK’s ambassador to the US, one of the most vaunted positions in British diplomacy. As our man in Washington, Mandelson appeared to have used his skill for schmoozing, learned over years as a cabinet minister and a European commissioner, to secure a good relationship with the tricky Trump administration. He was considered instrumental in securing a relatively favourable US trade deal for the UK.

He was also an influential voice in Labour politics with the ear of the prime minister and his inner circle, notably his friend and protege Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s then chief of staff.

Mandelson’s arrest on Monday marks one of the quickest and steepest descents ever seen in British public life.

It began when US lawmakers released some of the Epstein emails in September 2025.

In one letter from 2003 Mandelson called Epstein “my best pal”. In a birthday message he described Epstein as an “intelligent sharp-witted man”. It detailed what appeared to be a close relationship and referred to Epstein’s “‘interesting’ friends”. Mandelson’s message about Epstein added: “Very occasionally, taking you by surprise in some far off places … Or in one of his glorious homes he likes to share with his friends (yum yum) … But wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal!”

And an email from Mandelson to Epstein in 2008 said he would “fight for early release” when the disgraced financier was facing charges of soliciting sex.

Mandelson defended himself and said he regretted ever meeting Epstein. “I relied on assurances of his innocence that turned out later to be horrendously false,” he told the BBC.

But he also conceded to the Sun that more “embarrassing” messages to Epstein were likely to emerge. [Continue reading…]