Here is the advice Keir Starmer received in December 2024 when he was considering appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US:
Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
● A 2019 report commissioned by JPMorgan found that Epstein appeared to
“maintain a particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of
York and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British
government”.
● The report cited Epstein’s personal records which showed contact beginning
in 2002 and continuing throughout the 2000s.
● After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their
relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson
was Business Minister and continuing after the end of the Labour
government. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s House while he was
in jail in June 2009.
● In 2014 Mandelson also agreed to be a « founding citizen » of an ocean
conservation group founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, and funded by Epstein.
● On reporting of the JP Morgan report, Lord Mandelson’s spokesperson said
“Lord Mandelson very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein.
This connection has been a matter of public record for some time. He never
had any kind of professional or business relationship with Epstein in any
form.”
● The Telegraph reported on these links extensively in January 2024 –
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/10/lord-mandelson-friendship-jeffr
ey-epstein-keir-starmer/
● A Labour Party spokesperson has previously commented saying “There are
a whole range of people that Keir Starmer talks to. Obviously he talks to
people who were part of the last Labour government, including Peter
Mandelson.”
● The Cabinet Office holds official records that are likely to be released by the
National Archives early next year, which relate to a Tony Blair meeting with
Epstein that was facilitated by Mandelson.
● To note – general reputational risk
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