Former British ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson quit the Labour Party on Sunday (February 1, 2026), seeking to avoid causing it "further embarrassment" after newly released U.S. documents revived scrutiny of his connection to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr. Mandelson, 72, who was sacked as Britain's ambassador to the United States last year over his ties to Epstein, allegedly received several payments from Epstein in the early 2000s, according to documents released on Friday (January 30) by the U.S. Department of Justice and reported in British media on Sunday (February 1).
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"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," Mr. Mandelson wrote in a letter to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley.
"While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party," he added, saying he felt "regretful and sorry about this".
