Lord Mandelson says he has resigned his membership of the Labour Party as he does not want to “cause further embarrassment” by his links to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch earlier on Sunday had called on the Prime Minister to suspend Lord Mandelson’s membership and launch an investigation into his ties to Epstein.
The former cabinet minister, who was sacked as US ambassador last year because of his past connections to Epstein, appeared in the latest release of files by the US Department of Justice on Friday.
Documents suggest Epstein made $75,000 (£55,000) in payments to Lord Mandelson in three separate $25,000 transactions in 2003 and 2004.
In his letter to Labour’s general secretary, Lord Mandelson said: “I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this.”
He added: “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.
“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.
“I want to take this opportunity to repeat my apology to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now.
“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.”
Earlier on Sunday, Lord Mandelson had said he did not know whether the newly released documents were authentic.
He reiterated his regret for “ever having known Epstein” and for continuing his association following the disgraced financier’s conviction, apologising “unequivocally to the women and girls who suffered”.
Labour MP Gordon McKee told BBC Radio 4 that Epstein’s victims would be “rightly outraged” by the recent revelations and that Lord Mandelson had done the “right thing” by resigning from the Labour Party.
A Conservative Party spokesman criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for “allowing Mandelson to resign from the Labour Party instead of kicking him out”.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed had said the government was not aware of Lord Mandelson’s alleged financial links to Epstein, after being asked about it by Laura Kuenssberg.
BBC
